Bread strike called off as Kingsmill comes up with more dough
A threatened bread shortage in the run-up to Christmas in parts of the Midlands and the north of England has been averted after delivery drivers at a bakery in West Bromwich agreed a revised pay deal.
Drivers at the Kingsmill bakery, who deliver 1.5 million loaves each week, have overwhelmingly accepted a revised pay offer and have called off their threatened strike action.
Unite, the country’s largest union, said around 130 drivers, maintenance staff and security personnel at the Birmingham Road site had agreed a new pay package.
Unite lead officer for the food sector Joe Clarke said: “As part of the agreed deal with ABF Grain Products, the exact terms won’t be disclosed.”
However, he did say that the pay rise, backdated to April 2017, was slightly over 2.5% and with a 2% increase for year two, starting in April 2018. This is coupled with a further markets rate payment adjustment of 0.5% and a further 0.6% payment for a 12 month voluntary arrangement for the working time derogation.
“This deal reflects a good outcome with an overall package which sees the desired improvements to rates of pay that we have been pushing for at Allied Bakeries Kingsmill West Bromwich,” added Mr Clarke.
“The industrial action has now been called off after the workforce voted overwhelmingly to accept the revised offer and our members are working normally.
“I would like to thank our members for the solidarity that they have shown which has brought about this positive outcome and we look forward to a constructive relationship with the management going forward.”
