AFTER many years of seemingly harmonious industrial relationships at businesses across the north, unions are baring their teeth as their members threaten possible strike action at three separate companies.
The Unite union confirmed last night that it is balloting the workforce at Tandragee crisp-makers Tayto for strike action after what it says is the "disgraceful" action by its Manderley Food Group to avoid paying the new national living wage through offsetting it against bonuses.
Having also taken strike action at some offices of the Sean Graham bookmaking chain on two days last week - again over "poverty pay" - Unite say staff will strike again on the busiest betting day of the year during the Grand National on April 9.
And in a third possible planned action, Unite says it has entered negotiations with management at Wincanton to seek the reversal of proposals to cut workforce terms and conditions - a move that threats deliveries at Musgrave.
Regarding Tayto, Unite's Sean McKeever claimed the Tandragee workforce is being disadvantaged relative to workers in other parts of the UK.
He said: “Manderley Food Group is behaving with complete disrespect to its Tayto workforce. Management are attempting to avoid raising basic pay to the new national living wage rate by counting a weekly bonus payment made entirely separate to the basic wage.
“This represents a fundamental break with their long-standing approach, which was to peg the wage at 5p above the current legal minimum.
“This is disgraceful behaviour from a group who only days ago announced that their pre-tax profits for 2015 had surged to exceed £7m. Unite will be balloting our members for strike action in the face of this insult.”
In response, Tayto said it always has respected the laws of the land.
"We will comply fully with all legal requirements in respect of the new national living wage and are following the government, LRA and ACAS guidelines in so doing. From April 1 all colleagues entitled to receive the national living wage will receive it.
"We seek to treat all colleagues equally, regardless of their location, while still being mindful of their historic and current terms and conditions.
"On the above basis, any call for a ballot for strike action seems premature as we agreed today to meet with the union again prior to April 1 and discuss how this would be implemented in practice."
Unite's Davy McMurray praised staff at Sean Graham bookmakers on the strength of their industrial action last Tuesday and Friday during the Cheltenham Festival but claims the company's latest pay offer leaves workers just 9p an hour above the bare legal minimum and has been overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce.
“In the absence of any improved wage offer, workers have been left with no alternative but to escalate their industrial action and we have informed management of further strike dates on a number of Saturdays including Grand National Day on April 9."
Grahams, in response, said: “We are disappointed by the rejection of our increased pay offer of 10.24 per cent which would take our rates beyond the £7.20 per hour set out by Government and would apply to all staff from January 1, including those aged under 25. We hope the union would recognise this as a genuine offer to significantly improve pay rates."
Meanwhile Maurice Cunningham, Unite officer for staff in Wincanton, has confirmed his union has entered negotiations with management to seek the reversal of proposals to cut workforce terms and conditions.
“Wincanton have brought forward cost-cutting proposals threatening to cut workforce terms and conditions. They claim this is being forced by cost-reduction demands from their main customer, the Musgrave group.
“The proposals will see a reduction in working hours, annual leave provision, unsocial working hours payments and the removal of double-time. We estimate that most workers could lose the equivalent of £5,000 a year as a result."
He added: “We have scheduled three days of talks with management to resolve this but if these proposals are not withdrawn, we will initiate a ballot of our members on strike action.”
