"Fantastic turnout" from Princes strikers

Striking workers at Princes Food factories across the country are standing firm as the current wave of industrial action enters its second week.

The strikes are the result of new owners at Princes revoking a pay offer from the previous employer for Unite members who work as line operatives and engineers.

Paul Russell is Unite Senior Steward at the Princes cannery in Long Sutton in Lincolnshire. Standing on the picket line Paul said that morale and turnout on the picket lines has been fantastic and “absolutely first class”

Paul said; “It’s been bitterly cold, but the guys have been out since very early this morning. Been protesting, been campaigning peacefully and with good humour and morale is absolutely excellent on the picket line.”

Deputy Shop Steward at Long Sutton, Pat Hinkley, added that the workers “are so disappointed” that the new owners have removed the previous offer. 

Pat said that “We work very hard and the company can afford to pay for it”, adding that “the picket line has been tremendous” and that “it is important to stick together to achieve what we need to achieve.”

The factory workers have been receiving lots of support and messages of solidarity from the local community, with Unite Community activist Nick Williams posting on facebook about one picket line where there was, “Great support from the public and backing from Wisbech, March and District Trades Union Council and Fenland Unite Community Branch (Peterborough, Wisbech, King’s Lynn).”

Unite continues to call on Princes to get round the negotiating table and reach a decent resolution.

Below are just some of the photos that have been flooding in from picket lines across the country. 

Unite Live looked at why the strike escalated here. 

There is more background on the strike here. 

By Keith Hatch

Photos By Various Unite regions and branches