The workers, which are employed by Lockwood Haulage at an Ardagh Glass bottle factory in Knottingley, will walkout on 18 and 21 July because Lockwood Haulage has not honoured the pre-existing recognition agreement on collective bargaining with Unite the Union.
The forklift drivers were previously employed by GXO, which had a recognition agreement in place with Unite, before transferring to Lockwood Haulage in March 2025 after the company took over the Ardagh Glass contract.
Unite has warned that industrial action will continue to escalate until the dispute is resolved.
“Lockwood Haulage is union-busting plain and simple and Unite will not tolerate it,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“The forklift drivers at Ardagh Glass will receive Unite’s total backing for as long as it takes.”
Ardagh Glass supplies bottles to clients in the drinks sector including Diageo, InBev, Coca Cola, Heineken and Highland Spring, with Unite predicting that the strike will have a “severe impact” on operations.
“The disruption that will be caused to Ardagh Glass is entirely the fault of Lockwood Haulage’s disgraceful anti-union behaviour,” added Unite regional officer Phil Boyes.
“GXO had a long-standing agreement with Unite and this dispute will continue to escalate until it is honoured by Lockwood.”
Food Manufacture has reached out to both Lockwood Haulage and Ardagh Glass for comment.
In related news, Unite members employed at an Encirc wine bottling site in Bristol have been on strike this summer over a pay dispute.
