Unite members at glass filling and distribution take action from
this week over pay
There is set to be shortages of bottled, box and bags of wine on
supermarket shelves this summer as over 200 Unite members at the
Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol strike over pay and collective
bargaining.
Members at the factory work across different areas, including
bottling and packaging red, white, rose and sparkling wine and
distributing it from warehouses. Encirc supplies all the major
supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink
in the UK.
Encirc is a very profitable company, with a turnover of over £600
million. However, the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per
cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite - the recognised
union - and has now repeatedly stated from now on it will only
give pay rises tied to inflation.
This effectively means removing Unite's collective bargaining
rights, as any pay increases will be set by Encirc without
negotiations before being imposed on workers. Previously, the
union had been able to negotiate with management on pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to
its workers is all about greed and not need. This is a very
lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers
properly but it is choosing not to.
"Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our
members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they
have Unite's full support throughout this dispute."
Unite members at Encirc, overwhelmingly voted to take strike
action. Strikes will take place between 19 June and 5 July, with
workers in different parts of the business taking strike action
on different dates and times according to production schedules to
have the biggest impact. There will also be a 12 week overtime
ban as part of the action.
Encirc asked for negotiations with conciliation service Acas,
which Unite agreed to. However workers were then offered a worse
deal than that which had already been rejected.
Unite regional officer said: "There is no doubt that
this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be
frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this
summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making.
“Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc
needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved
offer."
ENDS
Notes to editors
Strike dates are as follows
19 June, 26 June, 27 June, 28 June, 29 June, 30 June, 1 July, 2
July, 3 July, 4 July, 5 July. Specific times and the job roles on
strike available on request.
