Delivering better pay

Over 400 workers employed by Brake Brothers based in Newhouse, Motherwell, have secured a major pay increase after standing firm and rejecting an earlier offer from the employer.

Brake Brothers provides wholesale food distribution services from the Newhouse facility to the hospitality and retail sectors, with a significant proportion of the company’s work comes from government based contracts to Scottish prisons, schools and social care homes.

Unite members at the company had earlier unanimously rejected an unacceptable pay offer which amounted to just a 53 pence per hour rise, and held a strike ballot in June and July.

The Unite members had returned an emphatic mandate in support of strike action by 94 per cent on 14 July which was not publicly released as negotiations over an enhanced pay offer progressed with Brake Brothers. 

However following these negotiations the workforce backed the improved pay offer, which will see pay increases of up to 4.85 per cent on the basic hourly wage for warehouse, administrative, hygiene and distribution drivers which is worth an extra 70 pence an hour.

The deal includes for managers a smaller percentage increase but a one-off payment equivalent to the same overall rise for all workers of an extra £1,638 over the year. The pay package will be backdated to April.

The latest Brake Brothers pay victory builds on the success of last year’s deal which delivered increases of up to 9.8 per cent on the basic hourly wage. This means take home pay over two years has risen by over £3,000.

Unite industrial officer Andrew Brown said: “Unite is delighted to have significantly lifted the wages of hundreds of workers at Brake Brothers. The latest win for Unite at the company means that take home pay has risen by thousands of pounds over the last two years. 

“It’s a deal which got the overwhelming support of our members.”  

The pay victory at Brake Brothers is just the latest example of Unite winning pay rises for members struggling with the cost of living – keep up to date with the latest news on Unite Live. 

By Keith Hatch