'Solid collective action'

Pay strikes at Wigan plastic manufacturer Alpla UK have been postponed to allow workers to vote on an improved offer tabled by the company, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (October 15).

Nearly 150 workers at Alpla’s Golborne factory, who are members of Unite, were due to begin a number of discontinuous strikes on 20 October.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Unite’s complete focus is on improving the pay, terms and condition of our members.

“By their solid collective action, and with the full support of their union behind them, our members at Alpla have achieved a much better offer than was originally proposed,” she added.

Unite is recommending that its members at Alpla accept the new offer. However, if it is rejected, two 48-hour strikes scheduled for 4 and 16 November will go ahead.

Alpla UK manufactures plastic bottles and containers for customers including Britvic, Coca Cola, PZ Cussons, Lever, Arla Foods, Core Ingredients, Princes Foods and others.

Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien said, “Unite welcomes this offer as a step in the right direction to ending this dispute. Our members will now decide if it meets their expectations.”

By Ryan Fletcher