Third strike vote in six months held at KP Snacks
Union members at the Billingham factory, which produces Skips, McCoy's and more, vote in favour of walking out
Thanks as always for clicking the link and reading The Teesside Lead.
It’s free to subscribe and get each edition straight to your inbox each Sunday and Wednesday, and it’s the easiest way to support independent journalism covering the Tees Valley.
If you have any tips for stories, get in touch!
Leigh
Workers at a Billingham factory which produces some of the most well-known snack brands in the country have voted in favour of strike action.
The GMB Union says dozens of its members at the KP Snacks factory are now in consultation over selecting dates to walk out, after a dispute over additional duties it says were imposed without extra pay or consultation.
KP Snacks produces Hula-Hoops, McCoy’s and Pom-Bears, among others.
Among the workers’ complaints are that process workers have had the number of breaks per shift reduced to one. Workers have also raised concerns that operational changes where machinery is left running during breaks could lead to “compromised safety”.
It’s the latest ballot in favour of industrial action at the site by members of GMB. In November 85 per cent of union members voted to down tools in a dispute with management at the factory. GMB said November’s vote to strike could have impacted Christmas supplies of popular snacks.
That vote was in a dispute over additional responsibilities being given to staff without additional pay. The vote would have given members a six-month window in which to take the action, presumably the latest vote is a sign that November’s dispute was resolved.
Workers held a ballot on industrial action in a dispute over pay only three months before November’s decision to strike, meaning a total of three ballots have been held to strike in the space of around six months.
KP’s Billingham site employs hundreds of staff and is the largest of its factories.
Announcing the result of the latest vote, GMB Organiser Paul Clark said: “These workers are skilled, experienced and absolutely vital to keeping KP Snacks’ production lines running and supermarket shelves stocked.
“The company has unilaterally expanded their roles, increased their workload and expected them to take on additional responsibilities, all without offering a single penny more in pay.
“That simply isn’t fair and this is crunch time for KP Snacks.
“If the company wants to avoid empty shelves and disruption, it needs to return to the table with a serious offer that properly recognises the work these staff do.”
KP have been approached to comment. At the time of November’s ballot to strike they said they “value the Teesside team and the important role they play in producing our products and remain committed to constructive dialogue to find a resolution.”