Christmas chocolate shortage possible

More than a dozen staff at the Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate factory in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, who supply confectionery products including the well-known brand Ferrero Rocher, are set to walk out in a dispute over pay, potentially causing a shortage of the chocolate at Christmas.

The workers, who are GMB members, rejected a real-terms pay cut at the confectionery giant’s site, with 100% voting to back strike action, although dates for the walkouts were yet to be announced at the time of going to print. The employer says it offered workers a 5.5% increase plus a £1,400 bonus during negotiations, but the union says this fails to ensure that wages keep up with rising prices.