A drivers’ strike planned for today (24 September) at a Hovis Bakeries plant in south-west England has been called off after a last ditch pay offer.
Unite, the union representing the around 60 distribution drivers set to take part in the industrial action today at Avonmouth, Bristol, said the walk-out had been “suspended”.
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“Following late night negotiations this has been paused to allow workers to vote on a new pay offer,” Unite said in a statement after warning earlier in the week of potential shortages of bread, buns and muffins if the dispute went ahead.
John Sweeney, Unite’s regional officer, added: “After fresh negotiations, we have decided to pause industrial action to allow members to have their say on a new offer from Hovis.”
Hovis Bakeries, a new unit recently formed by the parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) following this year’s acquisition of the business, had disputed Unite’s suggestion that the strike would cause shortages.
The bakery company declined to comment on what the new pay offer is when contacted by Just Food today.
However, a Hovis Bakeries’ spokesperson said: “Following a day of constructive discussion yesterday, we are pleased that union representatives at Avonmouth bakery have agreed to suspend industrial action while colleagues vote on a new offer.
“We would like to thank the Unite team for their willingness to work constructively with us to reach this stage.”
Hovis Bakeries, which emerged from the amalgamation of Hovis with the ABF business Allied Bakeries, had previously offered the drivers a 3% pay increase but Unite claimed it was insufficient based on the retail price index (RPI) inflation rate of 3.4%.
Unite had also called for a settlement in line with the extra benefits offered to Hovis drivers at the company’s Belfast plant in Northern Ireland but it is unclear if that element is part of the new deal.
They included a commission of two pence per product for all goods sold, along with a premium pay rate during public holidays of 50% above the “contracted basic hourly rate for those who work over five designated holidays, including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day”.
