Wrexham factory workers staging walkout over pay and working conditions

Hundreds of workers at a Wrexham factory are staging almost a month of industrial action over working conditions and pay.

Over 550 workers at Oscar Mayer, on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, voted by 98 per cent – in a ballot with a 76 per cent turnout – in favour of strike action.

It comes amid growing tension amongst staff over potential changes working conditions.

According to Unite workers are “angry at the company’s plans to remove some paid breaks, reduce other breaks and eradicate any enhanced payments and days off in lieu for working bank holidays.”

The union also notes that the company is “threatening to fire and rehire the workers on new contracts if they do not voluntarily accept the changes, which will see their take home pay plummet.”

However Oscar Mayer has disputed the claims that have been made, describing them as “factually inaccurate.”

The company is one of the major ready meal manufacturers in the UK and supplies large quantities of its products to Tesco, ASDA, Greggs, Aldi, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Oscar Mayers’ behaviour towards these already low paid workers is despicable.

“There is no justification whatsoever to slash their pay or for the threats of fire and rehire – an abhorrent practice that should be banned outright.

“Our members are absolutely right to strike and they have Unite’s unflinching support.”

Strikes started on 12 September and will run until 10 October.

Unite say that industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved.

Unite regional officer Jono Davies added: “Strike action is the last resort and Unite’s door continues to remain open for talks with Oscar Mayer.

“Burying your head in the sand is not the solution to resolving this dispute.”

A spokesperson for Oscar Mayer said: “We are disappointed by Unite’s decision to undertake industrial action and by their public claims to date, which have been factually inaccurate.

“We have engaged fully and constructively with our colleagues and their representatives throughout and have reached agreement with almost half of those impacted.

“We also have robust contingency plans in place and do not envisage any impact for our customers.

“The proposals have not been made lightly but we have made clear throughout that they are absolutely necessary to ensure a long-term sustainable business and protect the jobs we provide in the local community.

“These measures will also put us in line with the majority of other businesses in our sector and similar companies in the local area. Nonetheless, we have continued to engage with our colleagues to seek agreement on these proposals.”