Coca-Cola UK workers walk out in pay row

Workers at Coca-Cola’s biggest UK bottling and distribution centre will launch a 48-hour strike tomorrow, which union officials warned would have a “devastating effect” on supplies.

Members of the Unite union based at the site in West Yorkshire, will stage the walkout from 7am after rejecting a 2.5% pay offer.

Workers at another Coca-Cola site, in Milton Keynes, will strike for 24 hours on Friday as part of the same dispute.

Unite said the industrial action will disrupt supplies of Coca-Cola, Oasis, Dr Pepper and other soft drinks to shops, supermarkets, vending machines, pubs and hotels across the UK.

The union said it was furious that management offered to improve the 2.5% offer by asking workers to sacrifice overtime rates and bonuses.

Regional officer Davy Hall said: “While Coca-Cola Enterprises make significant profits, we are not prepared to see our members’ wages cut. Their hard work has delivered the profits for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Their mortgages, gas bills and council tax have all increased but their pay has fallen flat.

“This is the first two days of strike action. We are prepared to reopen negotiations to help resolve the dispute but our members are also adamant that the dispute could well escalate.”

The Wakefield operation, which produces 200 million cans of Coke a week, employs 517 staff, including manufacturing and distribution technicians and local delivery drivers.

Workers at the Wakefield site are also banning overtime as part of their campaign of industrial action.