A substantial pay rise has been accepted by workers at Greencore’s Manton Wood production site near Worksop in Nottinghamshire.
The “above-inflation award” from the food-to-go manufacturer comes after months of salary discussions with members of trade union Unite, which began back in January and escalated to the point where plans were announced for a series of strikes this month.
However, Unite subsequently revealed that industrial action had been averted in the nick of time with Greencore heading back to the negotiating table to make an improved pay offer.
The union confirmed yesterday (28 September) that all staff at the Worksop factory are going to receive a 10% increase backdated to 1 April 2023 and an additional 5.25% increase from 1 April 2024.
“This is a hard-fought victory for workers at Greencore,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. “It shows there is power in a union and that Unite will fight tooth and nail for its members in our relentless pursuit of better jobs, pay and conditions.
“I congratulate everyone involved for their hard work and for standing up to their employer in demanding a fair pay rise,” she added.
Unite had previously reported that 500 of its members working at the Greencore site were demanding increased salaries after earning as little as £10.53 per hour. The staff performed a range of vital roles including factory line workers, quality controllers, store workers, and cleaners, it noted.
A company statement from Greencore read: “We are pleased to have reached a deal that we believe is in the best interests of our colleagues at Manton Wood.”
Greencore is headquartered in Dublin but has a head office at the Manton Wood Enterprise Park along with its factory which, according to its website, supplies pre-packed sandwiches, baguettes, and wraps to “some of the most successful retail and foodservice customers in the UK”.
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