Last ditch talks to avert strike action at Allied Bakeries break down after pathetic management pay offer rejected by workers
All-out strike action by workforce confirmed to commence at Allied Bakeries in Belfast from 6am on Sunday [February 16th]
Strike action will cripple production and supply of pancakes across UK ahead of Pancake Tuesday
Sean McKeever, Regional Officer blasted as ‘pathetic’ the offer made by Allied Bakeries’ negotiators after direct pay talks broke down and confirmed that his members were now preparing for an all-out strike for a fair pay increase to commence from 6 am this Sunday [February 16th].
“Unite made ourselves available to Allied Bakeries and sought to engage positively in last ditch pay talks called at the request of management. Unfortunately the company did not appear to be serious when it came to addressing their workers’ demands and offered a pathetic pay offer which the shop stewards rejected as unacceptable. The meeting was a very short one.
“The other major competitor in the bread making sector in Northern Ireland, Hovis recently made their workforce a much improved pay offer which has been accepted. There’s no reason Allied Bakeries can’t deliver a similar uplift to their workers.
“Our shop stewards are now collecting flags and placards for the all-out strike action which is now set to commence from 6 am on Sunday [February 16th]; they are resolutely determined to win a fair pay increase.
“The strike action is set to coincide with the ramp-up production of pancakes at the Castlereagh Road site. Management bears full responsibility for what will be a hugely disruptive strike action coming in the key production period for the UK the fortnight before Pancake Tuesday.
“While we are now preparing in earnest for an all-out fight to secure fair pay, we remain open to engagement in advance of pickets going up. It is still not too late to avert an entirely avoidable strike action”, Mr McKeever concluded.
