The festive drink could face production issues as workers at the juice factory in Cardiff, which supplies its orange juice, vote to strike over pay
A warning has been issued as the Christmas staple Bucks Fizz could run out before the bid day due to a juice shortage.
The festive drink could face production issues as workers at the juice factory in Cardiff, which supplies its orange juice, vote to strike over pay. Nearly 200 workers at Newlat have voted to take industrial action next week on December 17 and again on December 24. The strikes could potentially have an impact on the spritz as it could lead to a shortage of orange juice which is a staple part of Bucks Fizz.
The strike action from union members came after the new owner scrapped the pay raises promised to workers. Previously, the Princes Group factory was owned by Mitsubishi, which promised a 4% to 7% pay rise for line operatives and engineers. However, the factory was sold to Italian manufacturing giant Newlat, which then revoked these offers. Instead, the group offered a rise of just 3%.
Unite Union warned that the production of orange juice at the site was “under threat” and could lead Bucks Fizz to “fall flat” this Christmas. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Newlat need to get back round the negotiating table before its customers discover they won’t have any products on their shelves. Our members work in back-breaking roles on low pay and want a fair slice of the pie. Newlat make 20% of all their revenues in the UK and are making money off the backs of these workers.
Graham believes Newlat is trying to short change Unite members. She added: “Unite won’t stand for such behaviour and will back our members in any dispute.”
Unite argued that Newlat is one of Europe’s largest food and drink group manufacturers, making estimated profits of around 188 million euros this financial year. Other workers at Princes Food, which includes Long Sutton, Wisbech, Bradford, and Glasgow, have also voted for industrial action with further dates set to be announced.
Unite national officer for food, drink and agriculture Paul Travers stood with the strikers: “Newlat borrowed huge sums of money to buy Princes and is now looking to cut corners and penny pinch to pay that money back. Unite won’t let them do so with our members’ livelihoods. Newlat can avoid this strike, which is one of their own making, by coming back to the negotiating table with a new and improved pay deal for our members.”
