Today (6 October ) marks the first of 14 days of planned strike action at AG Barr’s Cumbernauld production and distribution centre this month as workers demand fairer pay.
Truck and shunter drivers, who are essential to the supply of the company’s products, including Irn-Bru, have overwhelmingly rejected the company’s five percent pay offer for 2023. They confirmed further strikes would take place after talks yesterday, which were supported by conciliation service Acas, failed to make a breakthrough in the long-running pay dispute.
Unite has stated that its members will participate in further stoppages on 13 and 16 October, and then from 20 to 30 October.
Andy Brown, Unite industrial officer, said: “The significant escalation in strike action we have announced, including over 10 consecutive days, will undoubtedly hit supplies of the company’s flagship products, including Irn-Bru. We are dealing with a cash rich company with tens of millions sitting in the bank. Our members deserve better than a significant real terms pay cut.”
Last week, AG Barr reported interim results for the first six months of 2023. Pre-tax profits were up 12.6% over the first six months of this year, while revenue increased by 33.2% from £157.9m (26 weeks to 31 July 2022) to £210.4m over the same period this year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “AG Barr is refusing to make our members a fair pay offer despite announcing that pre-tax profits have jumped to £27.8m for the first six months of this year.
“We are dealing with a company where profits are overflowing. Yet it is still trying to force a significant real terms pay cut on our members. This is completely unacceptable. Unite is backing our members all the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The current AG Barr chief executive, Roger White, recently announced his retirement from the position within the next 12 months. Unite says that the pay dispute could be settled at a cost amounting to a fraction of Mr White’s last bonus payout of £462,000. Mr White’s current total remuneration package stands at £1.78m.
In response to questions over potential product shortages caused by the strike, AG Barr claimed that customer service would be upheld.
A spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed in the decision by 11 of our Scottish based HGV1 drivers, represented by Unite the union, to take industrial action. We made a pay offer that we believe is fair and competitive - in line with what has been agreed with our other employees. We believe we have a responsibility to be fair to everyone.
“We are committed to continuing to work with our trucker and shunter drivers and their trade union representatives to find a positive and constructive resolution.
“We have contingency plans in place to maintain customer service.”
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