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Nestlé staff back ballot on industrial action over pay

8:57am Friday 26th February 2010 in


HUNDREDS of workers at Nestlé’s York factory have voted overwhelmingly for a ballot on industrial action over pay.

Members of the GMB and Unite unions voted 504-36 in a “straw poll” in favour of a ballot to determine whether they would support industrial action, initially short of a strike.

John Kirk, who jointly represents both unions in pay negotiations, today launched a scathing attack on the company in the wake of the vote.

He claimed Nestlé was using the recession to impose a pay freeze for 2010, at a time when the factory was more productive than ever before and inflation had risen above three per cent.

He claimed York had record output in January and profitability was just below the company-wide average of 12 per cent, and the factory did so well last year that managers received “fat cat” bonuses of 12 per cent or more. Mr Kirk said: “We believe there is a ‘hidden agenda’ to replace traditional pay bargaining with individual performance-related pay.”

He said the union was prepared to accept pay freezes in 2007 and 2008 because it accepted it was needed then to secure the factory’s future, but did not believe this was so any more.

He said he did not want industrial action. “All we are asking for is fair pay.” He would meet the company again on March 4.

Nestlé said today its “engaged and positive” workers had helped it achieve a good year in tough times and they would share in the success of 2009. A spokesman said: “In March, our confectioners will receive, via the bonus scheme, a payout of 3.25 per cent, more than treble the amount paid last year.” He said 2010 was set to be even tougher and more unpredictable, with the additional challenge of record prices for raw materials such as cocoa.

“In the current climate, it would be irresponsible to increase costs we control including wages and salaries,” he said However, the factory bonus scheme had been improved. “In 2010, we’ll offer our confectioners the chance to earn a higher bonus than in previous years if the business achieves its targets. The maximum bonus payable will increase to 6.6 per cent from four per cent.”

He added the company was confident of attracting and retaining the best people, with terms and conditions significantly ahead of comparable employers in the York area.

Comments(17)

kennydebs says...
9:13am Fri 26 Feb 10

Lets follow the trend with other national unions!! In the deepest recession ever, factorys closing all over the country, people being laid off in their thousands. The answer ther unuions put forward isMORE STRIKES!! This is not the 1970's people should be grateful they have a job and a wage. So very sorry but no sympthay from me.

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shipton fc says...
9:23am Fri 26 Feb 10

nestle are jumping on the recession band wagon right around the world while making billions of profit. If mr rowntree could see what nestle have done to his company he would be turning in his grave. Nestle have wrecked rowntree`s and now there shafting there staff around the world ( not just york ) Good on york factory for making a stand. A so called bonus is not a PAY RISE its a PAY DROP. The fat cat managers taking a 12% bonus, now thats a joke !! rich getting richer and all that!!! 12% of 50-60 grand a year is not bad eh !!

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shipton fc says...
9:27am Fri 26 Feb 10

kennydebs thats the sort of thing that will bring this country down. Roll over and let them take you for everything you have!! This company made record profits and now there laughing . WAKE UP AND FIND SOME BALLS

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consumer says...
10:49am Fri 26 Feb 10

Good luck to the workers. They should have stuck one up this company twenty years ago. Better late than never.

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fatima blush says...
12:07pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Nestle workers are fools going on strike. Will play right into the companies hands and speed the inevitable closure of the factory.
Who do they think they are lazy posties (who must surely be due for another strike soon)?

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NTS says...
12:52pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Shipton FC, remind me what happened to Terry's? I do not think any amount of militancy will deflect a multi-national company from deciding whether to keep production in the UK or elsewhere. 12% for the managers is scandalous, however they are not the ones producing the choccies. If production gets too expensive then as Terry's, Nestle will find somewhere else in the world to produce their chocs. The workers will then be receiving significantly less than they receive now.

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NTS says...
12:52pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Shipton FC, remind me what happened to Terry's? I do not think any amount of militancy will deflect a multi-national company from deciding whether to keep production in the UK or elsewhere. 12% for the managers is scandalous, however they are not the ones producing the choccies. If production gets too expensive then as Terry's, Nestle will find somewhere else in the world to produce their chocs. The workers will then be receiving significantly less than they receive now.

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sciencefan says...
12:55pm Fri 26 Feb 10

shipton fc wrote:
kennydebs thats the sort of thing that will bring this country down. Roll over and let them take you for everything you have!! This company made record profits and now there laughing . WAKE UP AND FIND SOME BALLS
NO! What your advocating will damage the company that these people work for and ultimately harm the job prospects for these staff for the future. If you don't like it don't try and bully just go and get another job. Oh sorry I forgot your unskilled labour who are ten a penny on the current labour market......

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Kynnersley says...
1:04pm Fri 26 Feb 10

sciencefan wrote:
shipton fc wrote: kennydebs thats the sort of thing that will bring this country down. Roll over and let them take you for everything you have!! This company made record profits and now there laughing . WAKE UP AND FIND SOME BALLS
NO! What your advocating will damage the company that these people work for and ultimately harm the job prospects for these staff for the future. If you don't like it don't try and bully just go and get another job. Oh sorry I forgot your unskilled labour who are ten a penny on the current labour market......
The problem is crass management, awarding themselves big bonuses and giving the workers crumbs. It is the double standards as much as anything that incites works to take action as it makes them feel agrieved. Bosses and managers should lead by example not do as I say not as I do.

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the andrew says...
3:22pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Go on strike if you must, giving Nestle more excuse to employ agency labour on short term temp contracts at minimum wage, any vacancies in the future due to retirement etc will be filled with agency staff so bigger profit for them.

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fatima blush says...
3:39pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Strikers are idiots.
Look at Rooney

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AdmiralNN says...
4:40pm Fri 26 Feb 10

fatima blush wrote:
Strikers are idiots. Look at Rooney
eg.
'
Wayne rooney goes home and tells colleen that apparently John Terry has slept with every england players wife except one. Colleen says yeah, i bet it was posh the stuck up cow.

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mockaroundtheclock says...
5:31pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Process staff are pretty well paid (for York) and they should get real.

Striking just gives Vevey a chance to move us all abroad.

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King Edward says...
6:12pm Fri 26 Feb 10

While ex uninon leaders are part of the government, no strike is going to have any effect. Poachers turned gamekeepers, they will always be one step ahead. Remember Nestle always wins and so you'll lose pension contributions and wages for nothing. Speaking from experience, as my pension statement is a constant reminder of ineffective strike action that Alan Johnson was responsible for when running the CWU.

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sciencefan says...
10:32pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Kynnersley wrote:
sciencefan wrote:
shipton fc wrote: kennydebs thats the sort of thing that will bring this country down. Roll over and let them take you for everything you have!! This company made record profits and now there laughing . WAKE UP AND FIND SOME BALLS
NO! What your advocating will damage the company that these people work for and ultimately harm the job prospects for these staff for the future. If you don't like it don't try and bully just go and get another job. Oh sorry I forgot your unskilled labour who are ten a penny on the current labour market......
The problem is crass management, awarding themselves big bonuses and giving the workers crumbs. It is the double standards as much as anything that incites works to take action as it makes them feel agrieved. Bosses and managers should lead by example not do as I say not as I do.
You really have not got a clue have you? The management of companies get rewarded for making sure the company continues to grow and flourish. They are being rewarded for how they use their skills. If you are unskilled you cannot hope to be rewarded at anywhere near the same level. If you don't like it, tough, that's capitalism baby!

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shipton fc says...
11:32pm Fri 26 Feb 10

industrial action is not striking . wake up please !! this country is on its knees because of fools and idiots like the fools on hear, no back bone or heart to fight. It really dont matter how many idiots email in , the big companys are laughing at us all !!wake up england not just york or nestle , we as a nation have lost our sole . end !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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pandaface says...
10:18am Mon 1 Mar 10

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.this action has been a long time coming but i am glad the remainder of my former fellow workmates finally took a leaf out of our French buddies and grew a backbone.
I would have been proud to lead my fellow workers out on the picket lines way back in 2003 when mass redundancies were first on the cards.
Sadly the union scallies appeared to be working in collaboration with the fat cats and were brainwashed into convincing their paid members that that industrial action was not necessary.
My My My how the tables have turned....
York site will be sold off,it was too big a venture to be marketed as a whole lot but surely and slowly it will be broken down and sold off in bite sized chunks....
That way it will be easier to swallow by the general public.
Good luck to the grafters but i dont see a long term future on the site.
j.s

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