Workers at Heinz’s flagship UK production site will strike tomorrow (14 December) over a pay dispute with the US food group.
The Unite union has said a ban on overtime and staff working strictly to their contract will start at 00:01 tomorrow at Heinz’s Kitt Green plant in Wigan.
The union said “discontinuous” strike action will also take place for 24 hours from 21:50 on Wednesday.
The industrial action comes after workers at the facility rejected Heinz’s offer of a one-year 3.3% pay increase back-dated from the spring.
Unite has claimed that the strike will lead to 2m fewer cans of products, including baked beans and soups, being manufactured.
“Heinz have left our members with no choice but to stand firm and fight for a “fair” pay deal,” said Unite national officer Jennie Formby. “They are treating its loyal and long serving workforce disgracefully. It’s our members that helped them make its vast profits yet they are still refusing to table an improved offer that reflects their hard work.”
Heinz has defended its offer and said last week that the plans for industrial action would leave “many totally perplexed”. The company said it expected supplies to be unaffected.
