A STRIKE at a Yorkshire factory could lead to shortages of Coca-Cola, beer, whisky, and wine across the UK.
Unite members at Lockwood Haulage Ltd - based in Knottingley and South Kirby in West Yorkshire - are launching industrial action in a dispute over pay and conditions, with workers not receiving a pay rise for nearly three years.
The strike is expected to have a significant impact on glass bottle supplies for major brands including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Stella, Heineken, Johnny Walker, and Jameson.
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The dispute is based on a one per cent pay offer, backdated to March 1, 2025, which workers have rejected with the company proposed replacing a salary increase with an attendance-based bonus scheme.
The bonus would pay £250 per quarter, but workers believe it would leave them financially worse off.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: "The fact that workers have not had a pay rise in nearly three years is an absolute insult and to be now offered a measly one per cent is a further kick in the teeth.
"Moving away from yearly increases to a bonus scheme is simply another way to shortchange our members at Lockwood.
"Unite will not allow this unacceptable attack on pay and our members have our full support in their industrial action."
The affected employees, who include forklift truck drivers and machine operators in the company’s glass division, have not received a pay rise since October 2023.
They were transferred from GXO to Lockwood under a TUPE agreement in March 2025.
The strike is set to begin on September 2 and Unite said the industrial action will disrupt supplies from Ardagh Glass, which provides glass bottles for leading drinks brands.
Jessica Sangha, regional officer for Unite, said: "Any strike action is completely the fault of Lockwood management, who have insulted our members with this paltry pay offer.
"Industrial action can be avoided, but that relies on Lockwood coming back with improvements to the pay offer which our members will find acceptable."
Workers at the Knottingley site previously went on strike in July 2025 to secure union recognition following their transfer from GXO.
At that time, Lockwood had refused to recognise Unite, but the workers ultimately won the dispute and the union is now formally recognised for collective bargaining at the company.
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