Strikes planned at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ (CCEP) soft drink plant in Wakefield have been called off after a deal was reached to increase workers’ pay by up to 18%.
Last month, the Unite union announced that hundreds of workers at the largest soft drinks factory in Europe would go on a series of strikes during June in a dispute over pay.
However, in a statement issued yesterday, Unite said: “A breakthrough in negotiations means there’ll be no walk-outs this summer.”
The deal will see salaries of staff at the plant increase between £3,476 and £3,876 in the first 12 months, with further increases from 1 April 2024. The lowest paid technician will receive a 16.6% increase to their salary, with the highest paid technician receiving a 10.2% increase. Meanwhile, the lowest paid clerical worker will receive an 18.1% rise, and the highest paid will receive a 12% increase.
“This is a well-deserved pay increase for Coca-Cola workers. The famous soft drinks company made an astronomical £1.85bn in profits. It’s only right that the workers on the factory floor get a fairer share of the profits they help to make,” said Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham.
“The workers are to be congratulated for joining forces and taking a stand.”
The CCEP site can produce 360,000 cans and 132,000 bottles per hour, with Unite warning last month that the proposed strikes would lead to shortages over the summer of lines such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite.
Commenting on the latest developments, CCEP said: “The agreed deal at Wakefield is very much in line with the approach we have adopted at other sites, with a 6% headline pay increase alongside other, locally negotiated, items that improve flexibility.
“We are pleased that these pay negotiations are now concluded.”
NAM Implications:
- And the knock-on impact for other suppliers?
