Usdaw has initiated a strike ballot at KP Snacks’ Ashby-de-la-Zouch site due to a pay dispute.
- The ballot follows unsuccessful negotiations where KP Snacks’ 6.5% pay offer was deemed inadequate.
- 87.5% of Usdaw members rejected the company’s proposal in a prior ballot.
- KP Snacks reported a significant profit increase, intensifying the pay dispute.
- The strike ballot will close on 25 November, 2024.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has commenced a formal strike ballot for members at KP Snacks’ Ashby-de-la-Zouch facility, stemming from unsuccessful pay negotiations. The ballot, which concludes on 25 November, comes after prior industrial action consultations failed to secure a result acceptable to union members. According to Usdaw area organiser Ed Leach, “The 2024/25 pay negotiations have so far failed to reach a satisfactory outcome. The company’s offer of 6.5% fails to adequately address the narrowing of the gap between the value of the National Living Wage and the consolidated rates of pay at the site.”
Recent developments saw KP Snacks’ proposed 6.5% pay rise being rejected by a significant 87.5% of Usdaw members during a recent ballot. This overwhelming rejection highlights substantial discontent among workers regarding what they perceive as an insufficient pay increase, especially amidst soaring company profits. With Christmas approaching, Leach urged the company to reconsider its stance to prevent possible operational disruptions.
KP Snacks’ position is that the 6.5% pay rise is competitive, particularly as it substantially exceeds the current inflation rate of 1.7%. A spokesperson from KP Snacks expressed disappointment over the strike action, highlighting that the combined pay increase over two years equates to 15%, significantly higher than inflation figures.
Adding complexity to the situation, KP Snacks has reported an impressive pre-tax profit of £93.7 million for the 2023 financial year, a substantial rise from the previous year’s £64.3 million. This financial performance has not mitigated the discontent among its workforce, who are pressing for a more substantial increase in their wages, commensurate with the company’s profitability.
The ongoing pay dispute at KP Snacks highlights significant tensions between company profitability and employee wage satisfaction, with the resolution yet unclear.
