Food fight is settled

The combination of a 4% pay increase and an unconsolidated cash payment has averted three days of industrial action by members of the general union Unite (T&G section) at the Grampian Foods factory in Llangefni, Anglesey.

Strikes across the company’s UK sites took place earlier this year in a dispute over pay, pensions and the increasing casualisation of its workforce. Particular sources of anger were Grampian’s national pay freeze policy, which was applied in some areas but not others, and its proposals to cut pension benefits by 10% without any formal consultation.

The action was called off as discussions were held aimed at reaching a national agreement – but the dispute was reignited at Llangefni last month when managers refused to let a union official on site or to hold talks with the T&G’s national secretary for agriculture, Chris Kaufman.

The announcement of new strike dates was swiftly followed by the new pay offer, which was approved by a large majority in a union ballot. Kaufman described the deal as “a victory for common sense and trade union solidarity”.