Princes Food Group agrees pay deal while Fox’s Biscuits strike action suspended
The company, which produces a range of products including the Crosse & Blackwell, Crisp ‘n Dry and Napolina brands, said it has given the same pay agreement across all its seven manufacturing sites in the UK which cover food, soft drinks and oil manufacturing, by working with the local union representatives.
The deal, which covers 1,600 workers across the seven sites is a 7% pay rise backdated to April 2022 plus a £750 one off payment.
Future negotiations
Joe Dent, chief people officer at Princes Limited, said: “Princes has approached the recent pay negotiations openly and with positive intent and indeed are pleased that we have been able to offer the same agreement to all seven of our UK food, soft drinks and oil manufacturing sites by working with the local union representatives.
He added: “Our business and the wider industry continues to operate in extremely difficult conditions but we also recognise the unprecedented challenges being faced by colleagues during the cost-of-living crisis. This agreement is a positive step forward and our focus remains on serving our customers and proudly helping families to eat well, without costing the earth.”
Unite the union, which acted on behalf of Glasgow, Long Sutton, Wisbech, Bradford and Cardiff, said the company has also agreed to commence 2023’s pay talks in January as well as to establish a national staff forum for future negotiations. Staff at Glasgow were also represented by USDAW while the Edible Oils, which is a joint venture between Princes and Archer Daniels Midland, with sites in Erith and Belvedere were represented by the GMB union.
Meanwhile, a strike by engineers employed at the Fox’s biscuit factory in Batley has been suspended following negotiations.
Improved offer
A four-day strike was due to begin on Sunday 6 November, however following intensive negotiations at the conciliation service Acas, an improved pay offer was made.
Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said: “As a result of an improved offer by the employer following Acas talks, Unite has suspended its planned strike action as an act of goodwill in order to ballot its members.”
A statement from Fox’s Burton’s Company said: “Following completion of thorough and meaningful negotiations between management representatives of Fox’s Biscuits and Unite the Union an offer has been presented which will go to ballot. Strike action scheduled from 6 to 9 November 2022 will be suspended pending the outcome of the ballot.”
If the workers, who are members of Unite, reject the offer the second four-day strike scheduled to begin on Monday 14 November will go ahead as planned.
Last month, strike action at Bakkavor’s manufacturing factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, was postponed while workers are balloted on a new offer.
