Tunnock's staff get to have their teacake and eat it

A dispute over workers' demands for an extra 4p an hour at biscuit-maker Tunnock's has been resolved after two 24-hour stoppages.

Around 400 production workers at the company's factory in Uddingston, Lanarkshire took the industrial action last month after the introduction of new technology and manufacturing methods resulted in cuts to their overtime.

Managers initially offered to increase the workers' basic pay by 3.5% to £6.47 an hour as compensation, but the employees rejected this and voted to hold strike action in a ballot. Talks at conciliation service ACAS led to an increased offer of £6.56 (5% more than the old rate) - with the T&G general union recommending acceptance - but staff refused to accept less than £6.60.

The stoppages disrupted production of tea cakes, snowballs and caramel wafers, but Tunnock's has now agreed to fund the extra 4p as long as timekeeping and attendance targets are met.

T&G senior organiser Jimmy Farrelly described the dispute as "a hard battle", adding: "We are pleased it is resolved and now want to move forward."

fffstab