Union warns of shortage of Weetabix as strike looms

Unions are warning that consumers could face shortages of Weetabix this summer, if workers at the company’s Northamptonshire factories take strike action.

The dispute is over plans to “fire and rehire them” on what unions are describing “vastly inferior” contracts resulting in their pay being “slashed”.

The dispute involves engineers who are members of the Unite union at the company’s factories in Kettering and Corby.

Weetabix has issued the engineers with new contracts and work patterns, which unions say will result in major cuts in shift allowances. They say there will also be a move to require more day working than shift working, further contributing to the cut in pay.

Some of the affected engineers will lose up to £5,000 a year, says Unite. There are also major concerns about health and safety of the workers at both plants due to the low number of engineers who will now be on duty at certain times.

The ballot for strike action opens on Thursday 27 May and closes on Thursday 3 June. If workers vote for strike action then stoppages will begin later next month.

Unite regional officer Sean Kettle said: “Unite will not sit idly by and allow our members to be fired and rehired.

“Our members play an essential role in keeping the Weetabix plants operating and to treat them in such an offhand manner in order to simply boost profits is disgraceful.

“If a strike occurs it will undoubtedly disrupt the production of Weetabix and result in shortages in the shops.

“The solution is in Weetabix’s hands. They need to withdraw the threat to fire and rehire our members and return to the negotiating table.”

Unite regional secretary for the East Midlands Paresh Patel said: “Unite’s members have continued to work throughout the pandemic, risking their own health and that of their families, in order to ensure customers continue to receive their Weetabix.

“Any decent company would be paying their workers a bonus in recognition of their commitment and sacrifice, rather than attempt to slash their wages.”

The union is running a national campaign to get the government to outlaw the practice, in line with other competitor countries, to give UK workers protection. A recent Survation poll for Unite found seven in ten want the practice banned.

A Weetabix spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing change programme, we have been in close consultation with our employees and their local union representatives to implement new ways of working.

“We are proud to have recognised the efforts of all of our teams in keeping our factories open throughout the challenges of the last year and we were very happy to be able to share two discretionary bonuses with our manufacturing teams during that time.”