A YORK sweet factory is facing another strike today after pay talks broke down again.

Members of the GMB union will strike during the two day shifts at Tangerine in Low Poppleton Lane, with the night shift set to follow suit on Wednesday evening, said organiser Ben Kirkham.

A further 24-hour strike is also scheduled for November 30.

Mr Kirkham said talks with management lasted for several hours on Friday but ended in an ‘impasse’.

About 90 members of the union took part in their first strike last Tuesday at Tangerine, which makes boiled sweets including humbugs, sherbet lemons and bonbons.

The union said they had initially been offered a one per cent pay rise, backdated to January.

After rejecting this, they were offered 1.25 per cent, but backdated only to April 1, along with an additional 15-minute tea break, which they also rejected.

Mr Kirkham said fresh offers were made on Friday by the company, including a one per cent rise backdated to January with an extra 0.4 per cent for the first three months of next year, which the union rejected.

He said the union suggested a 15-month deal of 1.4 per cent, backdated to January, and an 18-month deal for 1.8 per cent, backdated to January, and these were both rejected by the company.

Tangerine said during last week’s action that it was disappointed by the strike decision, because its enhanced pay and break time offer had been a ‘positive step forward for the long-term future of this historic factory’.

It said: “It’s surprising that some York employees have taken this step, particularly when we have invested more than £8m at the site during a period of intense competition within the UK confectionery market.

“Our door remains open to the GMB to resolve this amicably but, in the meantime the factory remains operational and we’d like to thank the many staff who turned up to work today, ensuring we continue to supply our customers and the public with their favourite sweets as normal.”