Booze bottle supplier Encirc has moved to reassure its customers after strike action was announced at one of its factories in Cheshire.
More than 100 workers at Encirc’s Elton factory are set to walk out over proposed redundancies next month. Strikes were set to take place on 28 to 30 March and 3 to 7 April and would have “a significant impact on the supply of bottles or containers,” the Unite union said.
Encirc is a major manufacturer and filler of glass bottles for a high-profile alcohol brands including Jameson, Baileys, Budweiser and Coors, as well as supermarket branded wine.
However, Encirc said there would “certainly not be any bottle shortages”, adding it did not expect any disruption to its supply chain as a result of the walkouts.
“We are surprised this action is being taken because this restructuring process has been happening throughout our UK businesses for the past nine months and is now almost at an end,” a spokesman for Encirc said. “The majority of those people impacted have already left the business, with most taking advantage of generous voluntary redundancy packages.
“The union has been involved in that process proactively throughout and overall it has been a positive relationship, where together we put our people first.
“The changes we have implemented will stand us in good stead to tackle a difficult economic climate head-on, with an efficient and strong business foundation. For the union to take this action at the 11th hour, given the current challenging climate we find ourselves in, is very disappointing.”
Despite the planned walkout, Encirc remained “open to dialogue with the union”, the spokesman added.
Unite, however, said plans to reduce headcount at the site by 28 people would “negatively impact workers’ stress levels, increase workloads and create safety issues”.
Encirc was “highly profitable”, with parent company Vidrala recently reporting profits over £190m, it pointed out.
“A profitable company such as Encirc should be investing in its hard-working staff, not making them redundant,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said. “It is high time Encirc stopped prioritising greed. Our members there have our full support during this dispute.”
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