Valeo Fox’s Glacier Mint factory strike continues over pay and conditions
Employees at Fox’s Glacier Mint factory in York, UK, have entered a third day of strike action in protest at their terms of pay and conditions, writes Neill Barston.
Staff said they were reportedly ‘left with no choice’ but to take industrial action, amid a wider backdrop of major inflation of living costs and inflation impacting on Britain and wider global markets.
Management at the Valeo-owned also produce Poppets and Mint Humbugs said that the action had only affected ‘a small number of people,’ and that its operations had continued despite the dispute.
According to workers union GMB, employees concerns have centred on the fact that bosses at the confectionery business had only offered below inflation pay rises. Furthermore, the organisation said the lowest paid workers are also excluded from a one-off payment, while others are set to lose two days holiday a year.
The company has also given notice to GMB they want to end collective bargaining at the York site.
A striking Valeo worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was nerve-racking walking out the first time to take industrial action, but what choice did we have?
“Many of my friends at Valeo have kids to feed and clothe and it’s just getting harder and harder for them with the cost of living the way it is.
“Some are now going without so they can provide for their kids – I don’t know how Valeo bosses sleep at night.
“All we want is a decent rate of pay that we can live on – and respect from management. It’s not too much to ask for.”
Katherine Mitchell, GMB Organiser for Valeo York, added: “These are low paid workers, who work in hard and difficult conditions to produce sweets for various supermarkets and suppliers, including M&S.
“All they want is a decent day’s pay for doing it. They’ve taken the step to walk out mid-shift, which is an historic and very brave thing to do, bearing in mind the bullying and intimidation that they have had to endure. We call on Valeo to get back round the table, re-open talks and do the right thing by its workforce.”
In response, the company issued a statement which asserted that it had made efforts to meet employees concerns over pay levels, and believed that further strike action has now been called off.
It read: “We have engaged in very constructive conversations with our colleagues as part of a routine annual pay review process however a very limited number of employees made the decision to take industrial action. The site continues to operate as normal.”
