Workers at a packaging plant for Guinness 0.0 in Belfast are to walk out on Friday (12 December) after rejecting the latest pay offer from Diageo.
Around 90 workers will commence an eight-day strike from 7am on Friday 12 December until the early hours of Saturday 19 December.
A previous eight-day strike was due to commence on Friday 8 December but was suspended after workers received a new pay offer the day prior. However, this offer had now been “overwhelmingly” rejected, Unite the union said.
Workers are said to be angling for pay parity with those employed at Diageo’s site in Runcorn, England.
“Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world,” said Unite secretary Sharon Graham. “It can afford to level up its workers’ pay but has chosen to put profits before people.
“It needs to recognise the determination of this workforce to win fair pay and make a fair pay offer.”
The strike would shut down the site – which is the largest packaging facility for Guinness 0.0 – and could result in Christmas shortages, Unite warned.
Diageo has previously insisted it has a plan to manage any potential disruption to production.
“While we are disappointed by the outcome of the vote on what we believe was a more than fair and reasonable offer, we remain committed to constructive dialogue with the Union and its representatives to reach a resolution that supports the long-term competitiveness of the packaging site and the interests of our people,” a spokesman for Diageo said. “We respect the right of employees to take industrial action. To reiterate – there will be no disruption to the supply of Guinness or Guinness 0.0 over the Christmas period.”
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