Weetabix workers have commenced strike action at two of the breakfast cereal maker’s UK sites today (29 April) in a dispute over pay.
The three days of industrial action are taking place at Weetabix factories in the towns of Burton Latimer and Corby, both situated in the East Midlands’ county of Northamptonshire.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Usdaw regional secretary Gavin Dadley said in a statement confirming the dispute: “Having given the company notice of three days of industrial action, starting on 29 April, we regret that management have not improved sufficiently on the initial pay offer, which our members have rejected.
“We now urge the company, even at this late stage, to make an offer that could allow us to postpone this strike action. We remain firmly committed to arriving at a jointly negotiated settlement to end this dispute.”
Weetabix, which is owned by the US-based food company Post Holdings, responded to Just Food’s request for comment via a statement from a spokesperson.
“We are naturally disappointed by Usdaw’s decision to pursue industrial action but respect the voice of our production operators and their representatives. As a business we continue to invest in our people and offer competitive salaries.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe spokesperson added: “We are committed to an equitable solution that is fair to our wider workforce of 1,200 and remain keen to continue ongoing negotiations with our team and their representatives.”
This publication has asked Weetabix to confirm the status of negotiations and whether there will be any impact on production.
“We are not expecting to see any impact on our stock availability due to robust planning and a resilient supply chain,” the spokesperson responded.
Meanwhile, Usdaw said that 89% of its members at Weetabix voted in favour of strike action following a ballot in March.
The union added that it has been in negotiations with the company to secure a pay settlement but noted that discussions failed to produce an offer acceptable to its members.
It is not the first instance of industrial action at Weetabix.
In 2021, workers at a cereal bars facility in Northamptonshire staged a 24-hour strike over pay for shifts during unsocial hours.
Post Holdings acquired Weetabix in 2017 from Chinese state-backed majority shareholder Bright Food Group and an investment fund advised by Baring Private Equity Asia.
In November 2023, the UK breakfast-cereal business acquired local peer Deeside Cereals.
