Members of the Unite union at Diageo's Belfast plant have launched an eight-day strike after rejecting a pay offer. The workers, who package Guinness 0.0, are demanding pay parity with colleagues at the company's Runcorn site who earn up to 30% more for the same work. The union warns the industrial action could lead to major supply shortages for St Patrick's Day, particularly for exports to the United States.
The strike began on Friday following 16 months of negotiations. Workers at the Belfast plant have not received a pay raise since 2023, and current talks cover the 2024/2025 period. Employees at Diageo's packaging site in Runcorn, Cheshire, receive significantly higher pay for identical work, creating a substantial wage gap.
Michael Keenan, regional officer with Unite, said: «These people haven't been paid a pay raise since 2023.» He added that the management had offered an inadequate raise. «They (the workers) are looking for pay parity between themselves and their sister site in Runcorn, who are being paid up to 30% more for exactly the same job, so they're just looking to be treated equally,» Keenan explained. «It's the same company and this is a hugely profitable site.»
Keenan emphasized the timing of the strike is critical. «There will be some consequences for Christmas, but the main consequences will be after Christmas, because at this time of the year they actually do the packaging for St Patrick's Day,» he said. «A lot of that is exported to the States, obviously for St Patrick's Day, so that will have a major impact.»
Billy McFarlane, union representative at the site, described workers as «very unhappy». «We've been in these negotiations now with the business for the last 16 months, there's been plenty of negotiating back and forward,» he said. «In that timeframe we haven't had a pay raise from 2023, so this negotiation is for 2024/2025 and the members just aren't happy with the offer that the business has presented to them.»
McFarlane added: «They're here to try and gain pay parity with our sister site in Runcorn, they're being paid quite a chunk more than what we are for doing the same work.» He expressed hope the company would return with an improved offer, but added: «But if it (strike action) is going to run its course, it will run its course until the business decides to step in with something that's accepted by these people that are out here today.»
Diageo's Response
Diageo has implemented contingency measures to address the strike. A company spokesperson said: «We respect the right of employees to take industrial action.» The spokesperson added: «We remain open to constructive dialogue with union representatives to reach a resolution that supports the packaging site's long-term competitiveness and the interests of our people.»
The company stressed that Christmas supplies would not be affected. «To reiterate, there will be no disruption to the supply of Guinness or Guinness 0.0 over the Christmas period as a result of this strike action,» the spokesperson said.
The strike had originally been planned for the previous Friday but was suspended after Diageo made a fresh pay offer. Workers rejected that offer, leading to the reinstatement of industrial action. Union representatives have indicated they are prepared for a prolonged dispute if necessary.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
