Unite members at Tunnock’s biscuit factory in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, continued with planned strike action today, after rejecting the offer of a 2% pay increase at a meeting held yesterday.

The 24-hour walkout started at 00.01 this morning (23 September), with a second 24-hour strike set to take place next Tuesday, 28 September. Up to 500 members are thought to be taking part. A continuous overtime ban and work-to-rule action also began at midnight, according to Unite.

The formal offer of a 2% increase with set conditions was received by the union late on Tuesday (21 September) afternoon, but was rejected by members at a meeting held yesterday, according to a spokesperson for Unite.

Unite regional officer Derek Ormston said: “The members feel let down and angry and believe the 2% increase does not go far enough. They believe that Tunnock’s approach has been all about smoke and mirrors rather than genuine negotiations. Strike action will now go ahead from midnight tonight, but we still remain available to talk.”

Workers will formally vote on whether to accept or reject the offer, with a postal ballot due to close on 4 October.

The spokesperson for Unite added that its members have been angered by “misleading information” allegedly put out by Tunnock’s, which claimed the union had rejected its offer, when, at that point, no offer had been made.

Tunnock’s manufactures teacakes, snowballs and caramel wafers.

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