Northern Ireland

Hovis on way back to shelves as pay deal agreed

Workers from the Hovis bakery in Belfast picketed over pay conditions. Picture by Mal McCann
Workers from the Hovis bakery in Belfast picketed over pay conditions. Picture by Mal McCann Workers from the Hovis bakery in Belfast picketed over pay conditions. Picture by Mal McCann

HOVIS workers have accepted an increased pay offer from management to end their 11-day strike action.

Their union Unite claimed it was a "decisive victory for workforce achieved through collective organisation and industrial militancy".

Workers at the Apollo Road factory in south Belfast walked out on Friday after a demand to be be paid the same as their counterparts in Great Britain was turned down.

The pay deal is said to include an eight per cent increase over two years, with first increase backdated to January 2021.

There is also reported to be a Labour Relations Agency-conducted industrial relations audit to address wider workforce issues of concern.

Sean McKeever of Unite said the deal had been accepted by 79 per cent majority of its members and those of the Baker's union at a mass, socially-distanced meeting at the the site.

"These workers have been forced to stand around the clock at picket lines for eleven days to win a pay deal that should have been made long ago," he said.

Workers will return to production lines at 6am tomorrow.