Zarah ChoudharyUnite the union’s members at Princes food production factories across the country are balloting for industrial action over pay.
The union warned that strike action could disrupt the supply of popular household staples at supermarkets like Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose M&S, Asda, Lidl and Aldi.
More than 800 workers at five sites – Long Sutton, Wisbech, Cardiff, Bradford and Glasgow – are being balloted after rejecting a pay deal from the company’s new owners.
The union argued that the pay deal in question would leave them worse off than the offer promised by the previous owners.
Princes produces tinned meats, fish, vegetables, sauces, soups and soft drinks for brands including Branston, Crosse & Blackwell, Napolina and Batchelors.
Unite’s members who work as line operatives and engineers were offered a 4% to 7% pay rise dependent on salary by the previous owner, Mitsubishi.
The company was subsequently bought by Newlat S.p.A, which withdrew that offer, instead offering a 3% pay rise.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Princes needs to get back round the negotiating table before its customers discover they won’t have any products in their shopping baskets.
“Our members work in back breaking roles on low pay and deserve a fair slice of the pie.
“Newlat has a major stake in the UK market and are making money off the backs of its workers.
“Yet they want to short change our members. Unite won’t stand for such behaviour and will back our members in any dispute.”
In its latest half year financial reports, the Newlat Group projected sales of €2.8bn during this financial year, with profits of approximately €188m.
Paul Travers, acting national officer for food, drink and agriculture at Unite, said: “Newlat borrowed huge sums of money to buy Princes and is now looking to cut corners and penny pinch to pay that money back.
“Unite won’t let it do so with our members’ livelihoods. Newlat can avoid this strike, which is of its own making, by coming back to the negotiating table with a new and improved pay deal for our members.”
A spokesperson for Princes said: “Princes is currently in ongoing pay negotiations with local union representatives at our UK manufacturing sites and we hope a positive outcome can be reached.
“It would be not be appropriate to make further public comment at this time.”
