UK companies could face a significant shortage in tin cans later this month as printers at Envases take strike action following the company’s decision to fire and rehire them.
The highly skilled printers, who are members of the Unite union, are taking the industrial action after the company required them to accept new contracts or be dismissed.
The new contracts require the printers, who had already agreed to become more flexible, to work in the company’s production hall when required.
Strikes will begin on Wednesday 12 June and run until 14 June. There will then be further strike action from 17 June to 21 June and 24 June to 25 June.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Envases has behaved in a disgraceful manner in brutally firing and rehiring its workers to force though changes to working practices.
“Its bully boy practices won’t work. Unite always backs its members to the hilt when they are fighting for improved jobs, pay and conditions and the Envases workers will receive the union’s complete support.”
The strike action will stop the production of industrial tin cans which are produced for a host of major UK companies including: Morris, PPG, Barrettine, Sherwin Williams, Castrol, Duckhams, Fentons, Bostic, Wilkinsons and McVittie Can Works.
Unite regional officer Gary Fairclough said: “The forthcoming strike action will bring production to a halt and cause delays and disruption throughout Envases supply chain but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making.
“A resolution to the dispute is directly in the hands of the company’s management.”
