Heinz workers accept pay deal

STAFF at Heinz’s factory in Wigan have voted in favour of the latest pay offer.

The dispute has led to three separate days of strike action in the past month at the plant which employs 1,200 staff producing beans, soups, puddings and pasta meals.

Management first offered a rise of 3.3% which has since risen to 3.9% in the year to April and 3.9% in 2011-12.

Some 805, or 75%, of Unite members supported the above-inflation rise, but it was rejected by 258 staff, or 25%.

yesterday the Office of National Statistics said the rate of inflation surged to 3.7% last month, its highest level since April and up from 3.3% in November.

Jennie Formby, Unite’s national officer for the food and drink, said: “We are pleased to have reached a negotiated settlement with Heinz. It is important that Heinz has listened to its workforce and offered a fairer pay deal, one that acknowledges the contribution the workforce has made to the company’s success.
 
She added: “The new offer has been overwhelmingly accepted by members and therefore the dispute has now ended.”