Strike action looms over pay dispute at KP Snacks

The Unite union says workers at KP Snacks in Rotherham will strike for a week from 5 September, after its members voted 83% in favour of industrial action.

The union adds the business has made £54m in profit but is offering workers a real terms pay cut.

Unite says unless the company ups its offer, the strike action will escalate. The factory in Rotherham is the sole producer of KP Nuts.

However, KP Snacks said it believed its offer was “fair” and voiced disappointment that staff had turned it down.

Workers at the factory have rejected a below inflation 8% pay offer. Unite argues that while the company has increased its profits by 275% since 2018, average pay at the business has fallen in real terms by 14% since 2018.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s message to KP Snacks is if you pay your workers peanuts, expect strike action.

“Workers are refusing to accept anything less than a pay deal which keeps up with the cost of living.

“The workers have Unite’s total support in their drive for a fairer share of the company’s huge profits.”

Unite regional officer, Chris Rawlinson, added: “If bosses want to avoid a nut shortage across pubs and supermarkets they need to put a fairer pay offer on the table.

“KP Snacks made £54m in profit last year, the company can easily afford to pay workers more. Management should be focused on negotiating an end to the dispute or strike action will escalate.”

KP Snacks began nut production in Rotherham in 1948 and employs 210 people in the town.