Union tells KP Snacks before walkout: If you pay peanuts, expect strike action
Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Thu, 24 August 2023
Workers at a factory making KP Nuts will stage a week-long strike in a row over pay.
Members of Unite at the KP Snacks site in Rotherham will walk out on September 5 after voting by 83% in favour of industrial action.
The union said strikes will escalate if an 8% pay offer is not improved.
General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s message to KP Snacks is if you pay your workers peanuts, expect strike action.
Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said the firm’s profits have soared while workers’ real-terms pay has fallen (PA)
“The company has increased its profits by an astonishing 275% since 2018 but the workers’ pay has fallen 14% in real terms over the same period.
“That’s why workers are refusing to accept anything less than a pay deal which keeps up with the cost of living.”
Mark Duffy, manufacturing director at KP Snacks, said: I can confirm that following further wage negotiations with colleagues and their representatives at our Hellaby site, our latest pay offer has been rejected and we have been advised by Unite that they will be taking strike action from September 5-12.
“We believe that the offer of 8% with no strings backdated to April 2023 is fair, equitable and ahead of most pay deals this year within the industry.
“We are extremely disappointed to have reached this situation, which is unprecedented for KP, and had hoped to avoid the announced strike and resultant impact on colleagues.
“In the meantime the factory team continue to develop robust contingency plans to minimise the impact on customers and consumers.”
Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Thu, 24 August 2023
Workers at a factory making KP Nuts will stage a week-long strike in a row over pay.
Members of Unite at the KP Snacks site in Rotherham will walk out on September 5 after voting by 83% in favour of industrial action.
The union said strikes will escalate if an 8% pay offer is not improved.
General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s message to KP Snacks is if you pay your workers peanuts, expect strike action.
Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said the firm’s profits have soared while workers’ real-terms pay has fallen (PA)
“The company has increased its profits by an astonishing 275% since 2018 but the workers’ pay has fallen 14% in real terms over the same period.
“That’s why workers are refusing to accept anything less than a pay deal which keeps up with the cost of living.”
Mark Duffy, manufacturing director at KP Snacks, said: I can confirm that following further wage negotiations with colleagues and their representatives at our Hellaby site, our latest pay offer has been rejected and we have been advised by Unite that they will be taking strike action from September 5-12.
“We believe that the offer of 8% with no strings backdated to April 2023 is fair, equitable and ahead of most pay deals this year within the industry.
“We are extremely disappointed to have reached this situation, which is unprecedented for KP, and had hoped to avoid the announced strike and resultant impact on colleagues.
“In the meantime the factory team continue to develop robust contingency plans to minimise the impact on customers and consumers.”
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