Further strike action over pay at Pilgrim’s meat plant in the UK town of Enniskillen is planned for next week.
The Unite union said in a statement on Sunday (9 August) that 130 workers at Pilgrim’s Europe site in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, had voted to strike on the “picket line” on Friday.
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Industrial action at the facility first kicked off on 4 August, lasting for five days through Saturday 8 August.
Unite said in its weekend statement that the “workforce is seeking a cost of living pay increase and an end to the current unequal payment of breaks”.
The union added it had “served notice” on Pilgrim’s Europe, part of the Pilgrim’s Pride business majority owned by Brazilian meat giant JBS, for a further two weeks of strikes from 17 August.
Just Food asked Pilgrim’s Europe for an update on the negotiations today and to confirm how many staff are employed at the Enniskillen factory and what products are made there.
The company did not clarify those points but did provide a statement.
“We have made a pay offer above inflation and remain committed to constructive discussions with the union,” a company spokesperson said.
“Our priority is ensuring all employees feel safe and respected throughout this period while we continue to focus on serving our customers and supporting our people.”
Unite claimed Pilgrim’s Europe had failed to offer an “inflation-proof pay increase that addresses unequal pay for breaks”, explaining that workers on morning shifts were getting a 15-minute paid break, while staff on evening and nights shifts were entitled to 30 minutes.
Its general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Pilgrims is a very successful company making huge after-tax profits. It can well afford to pay its workers properly but our members in Enniskillen are paid less than colleagues on sites elsewhere in the UK and little above the bare legal minimum.”
Unite claimed Pilgrim’s Europe “declared after-tax profits” of £128.4m [$173.3m] in its 2024 financial year.
The company operates 40 facilities across the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, employing 17,000 workers, according to its website. It manufactures private-label meat products but also owns brands such as Moy Park, Richmond and Fridge Raiders.
JBS holds an 80% interest in Greeley, Colorado-based Pilgrim’s Pride through its US subsidiary JBS USA. In 2021, the Brazilian meat major approached the company to take full control but pulled back its offer the following year.
The Brazil firm acquired a controlling 64% stake in Pilgrim’s Pride in 2009 for $800m after the US company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the previous year. It then went on to gradually increase its holding to 80.2%.
United had not responded to Just Food’s request for confirmation of what wage increases are now being sought and the current status of talks at the time of writing.
In Sunday’s statement, Unite’s regional officer Greg O’Kane said: “Our members are determined to secure an improved pay deal offering real protection from the cost-of-living crisis and ending the current inequality around paid breaks.
“They are set to escalate their strike to two weeks – management needs to return to the table with an offer meeting our members’ pay expectations to resolve this dispute.”
