cadbury chocolate production factory

Cadbury workers at three of the company’s UK sites have won a two-year pay deal designed to counter rising inflation.

The deal was “overwhelmingly” voted for by workers at the Bournville, Chirk and Marlbrook plants, said the Unite union. It grants them a backdated pay rise for April 2017 to March 2018 of 3.2% - the Retail Price Index (RPI)’s inflation rate as of February this year. It also includes an uplift in maternity pay.

The package would “protect our members’ standard of living during these challenging economic times” said Unite national lead officer for food, drink & agriculture Joe Clarke. “We are delighted that the Cadbury business, with its strong ethical traditions, can still act in a positive fashion in relation to its workforce and set the benchmark within the food, drink and agriculture industries for other employers to follow.”

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A spokeswoman for Cadbury owner Mondelez said the company was “delighted” to have reached a deal with the Bourneville, Chirk and Marlbrook teams. “While ensuring the business remains competitive, the deal rewards our respected colleagues across our three chocolate manufacturing sites in the UK.”

Mondelez’s factories and workers were “absolutely vital to our business, which is why we’ve invested £200m in the UK, including £75m to secure the future of Bournville”, it said.