Unions say that food and drink producers could run out of packaging as a result of strike action in Darlington.
Unite says that Cepac print workers will walk out for 10 days after pay negotiations broke down.
However, Cepac has responded calling Unite’s comments: “incorrect, unhelpful and misleading.”
More than 90 workers, including printers, engineers and conversion operatives voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action, with the first strike beginning on July 18th and running for several weeks until the end of September.
Unite General Decretary Sharon Graham said:
“Cepac has been caught red handed. This is a profitable company refusing to give its workers a decent rise and combining that with a con trick on terms and conditions,”
“Unite’s members at Cepac will receive the union’s absolute backing.”
The union added that further action could be taken if the dispute isn’t resolved, this will be in addition to an overtime ban.
The dispute centres around an 8% “strings attached pay increase”, which Unite said was a “real terms pay cut with the true rate of inflation currently standing at 11.3 per cent.” The “strings attached” is that workers would also have to increase their working week from 37 to 40 hours and have reduced overtime rates and changes to shift patterns.
However, in a strongly worded press statement, Cepac’s Group Managing Director, Steve Moss responded:
“The Unite press release uses some unfortunate language. The Company has always sought to negotiate with employees and representatives in a constructive and open manner. Our Darlington site continues to face challenging trading conditions and financial losses, which has all been shared with employees and their representatives.
“The need for additional flexibility, including a change in the working week for a proportion of employees, is to secure the future of the business. This is accompanied by a realistic pay award ranging from 8% to 17.5%, dependent upon roles. Unfortunately, Unite seem unprepared to enter constructive discussions, which is regrettable. Any form of industrial action can only damage our business further still and place future growth in a precarious position.”
Cepac produces packaging for HBCP (Greggs, Costa, Subway and Pret), C&D Foods Group (Aldi, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda).
“Our focus is upon our customers and many of our employees share our desire to keep our customers supplied and work constructively together to do that,” continued Moss.
“We can only continue to urge Unite to engage in this matter. I cannot emphasise enough the serious consequences of industrial action for our business and all employees.”
