Workers at KP Snacks are to threatening to take strike action in a dispute over pay.
The Unite union suggested that supplies of KP Nuts are at risk because the company refuses to give workers at its factory in Hellaby, Rotherham, a “fair portion of its multi-million pound profits”.
135 workers at KP Snacks, including cleaners, began voting on strike action yesterday. The union claims a strike would shut down the factory and disrupt supplies of the company’s peanut ranges to pubs and supermarkets.
The current company offer is a pay rise of 6% plus a £1,000 one-off payment. But the lowest paid cleaners, who earn £10.66 an hour, have been excluded from the offer.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “KP Snacks has increased its profits by 275% since 2018. This year workers won’t accept being paid peanuts.
“To exclude the lowest paid workers from the pay negotiations all together is corporate greed in action. Especially when KP Snacks made £54m in profit. The workers have Unite’s steadfast support.”
Unite regional officer, Chris Rawlinson, added: “KP Snacks in Rotherham is the sole producer of KP Nuts. So if the strikes go ahead, pubs and supermarkets will be hit hard. Unite members are determined to get a fairer portion of the company’s huge profits. It’s time for management to put a serious pay offer to the workforce.”
KP Snacks has yet to comment.
