A total of 2,500 UK workers at food and household goods giant Unilever have voted to down tools over the company’s plans to close a final salary pension scheme.

Members of the Unite, GMB and Usdaw unions overwhelmingly voted to strike, which will lead to walkouts across the company’s twelve sites during December, according to a statement from Unite.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The dispute is over plans by Unilever, which owns brands including Marmite, Hellman’s Mayonnaise and Pot Noodle, to cut the company’s final salary pension scheme and adopt a new scheme, which the unions say will hit workers’ retirement income.

Jennie Formby, Unite national officer, said: “Our members have spoken and, while the decision to strike was not an easy one, the message is clear: they will not roll over and accept this attack on their pension scheme.

“Unilever must now do the decent thing for its loyal workforce and get back around the negotiating table.

“Unilever is betraying the very staff who have worked tirelessly over decades to make Unilever the hugely successful and profitable global giant it is today. Our members now face losing thousands of pounds in retirement, whilst at the same time the directors earn millions in bonuses and share options.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

A Unilever spokesperson said: “We fully acknowledge and understand the strength of feeling that proposing changes to our UK pension arrangements has prompted.

“We listened carefully to employee feedback during more than 100 days of consultation and have responded by making a number of significant changes to the original proposals announced in April.”