Quorn Billingham workers to strike

More than 60 workers at Quorn’s meat free paste production factory will strike on September 30 and October 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. More strikes are set to be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved.

Workers rejected a four per cent pay offer plus a £1,000 bonus. They voted to strike after the company refused to meet their demands of a nine per cent pay rise, which was the RPI inflation rate in April, when negotiations began.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Quorn is a successful business that pays its CEO Marco Bertacca a huge wage – it can afford to give our members a reasonable pay rise and needs to do so.

“Quorn is quick to boast that it is an ethical company, but clearly that social responsibility does not extend to ensuring its workers’ wages do not fall behind rising prices. Our Billingham members have Unite’s total backing in their fight for a fair pay rise.”

The striking workers, including fermenter and chiller technicians, maintenance and laboratory staff and effluent treatment plant staff, are vital to the running of the factory. The strikes impact could lead to shortages of Quorn products in supermarkets.

Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown added, “Our members have been left with no choice but to strike after Quorn put forward a pay offer with no meat on the bone.

“The responsibility for any Quorn product shortages will be the company’s for refusing to put forward a decent rise even though it is not short of money. A pay deal our members can accept needs to be tabled.”

By Ryan Fletcher