A total of 2,500 UK workers at food and household goods giant Unilever have voted to down tools over the company’s plans to close a final salary pension scheme.

Members of the Unite, GMB and Usdaw unions overwhelmingly voted to strike, which will lead to walkouts across the company’s twelve sites during December, according to a statement from Unite.

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The dispute is over plans by Unilever, which owns brands including Marmite, Hellman’s Mayonnaise and Pot Noodle, to cut the company’s final salary pension scheme and adopt a new scheme, which the unions say will hit workers’ retirement income.

Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “Our members have spoken and, while the decision to strike was not an easy one, the message is clear: they will not roll over and accept this attack on their pension scheme.

“Unilever must now do the decent thing for its loyal workforce and get back around the negotiating table.

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“Unilever is betraying the very staff who have worked tirelessly over decades to make Unilever the hugely successful and profitable global giant it is today. Our members now face losing thousands of pounds in retirement, whilst at the same time the directors earn millions in bonuses and share options.”

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A Unilever spokesperson said: “We fully acknowledge and understand the strength of feeling that proposing changes to our UK pension arrangements has prompted.

“We listened carefully to employee feedback during more than 100 days of consultation and have responded by making a number of significant changes to the original proposals announced in April.”