Source: Unite the union
The packaging crisis affecting many of the UK’s most popular food
and drink companies, including bakers Greggs and sandwich chain,
Pret A Manger is set to deepen after workers announced a further
two weeks of strike action.
The 90 plus workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s largest
union, and employed by Cepac in Darlington began four weeks of
strike action last week (Monday 14 August). Due to the company’s
failure to engage in any meaningful negotiations, Unite has given
notice of a further two weeks of strike action, meaning
industrial action will now run continuously until
Monday 25 September
The dispute is a result of Cepac only being prepared to offer an
eight per cent pay increase, which is below the true inflation
rate (RPI) of nine per cent. Additionally, the offer is subject
to the workers accepting substantially worse conditions including
longer hours, lower overtime rates and a change in shift
patterns. The offer is in effect, a significant pay cut.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham
said: “Cepac’s actions are all about greed, not
need. This is a company that can make a fair pay offer but is
attempting to boost its profits by making its employees work
longer and under worse conditions.”
Cepac produces corrugated packaging. Its clients include: HBCP
(whose customers include Greggs, Costa, Subway and Pret A Manger)
along with C&D Foods Group (whose customers include Aldi,
Tesco, Morrisons and Asda). Other Cepac customers
include Mars, Carlsberg, Innocent Drinks, Pernod, Lidl,
Sainsbury’s and Diageo.
Cepac is a profitable company and can afford to improve its
offer. The firm’s latest accounts for 2021 lodged at Companies
House show the company made a gross profit of £34 million.
Unite regional officer Pat McCourt
said: “Consumers across the UK are becoming
increasingly alarmed that they will struggle to purchase their
favourite food and drink due to the growing packaging
crisis. This dispute is
exclusively of Cepac’s own making, the company pay offer along
with the changes to terms and conditions would actually make our
members worse off.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Greggs, Costa, Subway and Pret,
facing packaging crisis as Darlington Cepac print workers
announce four weeks of strikes
