Workers at factories in Long Sutton and Wisbech have been manning the picket lines in a row over pay.
This week, members of the Unite union from Princes Food were seen waving placards as they voiced their discontent over the firm’s decision not to honour a pay award previously offered of 4% – instead reducing it to 3%.
Jo Rust, secretary of the King’s Lynn and District Trade Union, joined the Long Sutton picket line on Tuesday.
Jo Rust, secretary of the King’s Lynn and District Trades Council, joined the workers on the picket line outside the Long Sutton factory. Picture: Jo rust
She explained: “The members of Unite the Union at Princes Food had felt forced to take lawful industrial action due to a new owner taking over and refusing to honour the pay award offered by the previous owner, reducing it from 4% to 3%.
“I spoke to members on the picket line who were so disappointed and demoralised to have moved from owners that showed that they valued and respected them, to an owner who refused to meet with the trade union face-to-face and only offered one Zoom meeting, giving the appearance that he didn’t recognise the trade union or the benefits of having one body to negotiate with.”
Jo was planning to join yesterday’s industrial action in Wisbech herself and said: “The unions work to benefit all, not just a few, after all, if the workers losing pay to make their point, are successful, then all the employees in that workplace will benefit from that pay award. In the same way, if Unite the Union is successful in challenging the government over its failure to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment before withdrawing, the Winter Fuel Allowance, then all pensioners will benefit.
Workers stand united as they picket outside Princes Foods in Wisbech. Picture: Unite
“Challenging the government is a huge step to take, but with the backing of your trade union, you know you’ve got the power to do so. On Monday evening trade union members heard from former sub-postmasters and mistresses who had been falsely accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting and imprisoned because of it.”
Unite’s members at Princes Foods had been offered between a 4% and 7% pay rise dependent on salary by the previous owner, Mitsubishi.
The company was subsequently bought by Newlat which withdrew that offer and is offering a 3% pay rise.
Prior to the strict action, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Newlat needs to get back round the negotiating table before its customers discover they won’t have any products on their shelves. Our members work in back-breaking roles on low pay and want a fair slice of the pie.
“Newlat makes 20% of all its revenues in the UK and is making money off the backs of these workers. Yet they want to shortchange our members. Unite won’t stand for such behaviour and back our members 100%.”
Strike action is also taking place in Cardiff, Bradford and Glasgow as well as the two local factories.