A strike by coffinmakers at the Co-op's only UK manufacturing site is set to bring production to a "complete stop", unions have warned.
Co-op Funeralcare is one of the UK’s biggest funeral directors. Some 50 workers at its plant in Bogmoor Place, Glasgow, have rejected a pay offer which union Unite has called a “real-terms” pay cut.
Unite would not confirm what the Co-op’s pay offer was but said the offer was “less than half” of the latest estimate of RPI inflation at 12.3%.
Employees are set to walk out from October 31 every day until November 7. Members had voted for strike action by 96% on an 86% turnout in August.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Co-op trades on being different to bad employers; it should not be proposing a real-terms pay cut for their Funeralcare workers, especially when they can well afford to pay fairly.
“We will fully support our Co-op members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Willie Thomson, Unite industrial officer, said: “Co-op Funeralcare have left our members with no option but to take strike action as they have failed to table an acceptable wage offer.
“We have given negotiations every opportunity to resolve this dispute but the Co-op are failing to recognise the cost of living crisis.
“Unite’s members are sending a clear message by taking strike action that the wage offer is unacceptable, and they are determined to fight for a better wage deal.”
The Co-op has said the strike will have “no impact” on their ability to support bereaved families, and they have a strong supply of coffins available.
A spokesperson said: “Our colleagues at our Glasgow coffin factory are a hugely valued part of our Co-op and following ongoing discussions with Unite we are disappointed that we have not been able to reach an agreement about pay.
“In spite of the difficult trading environment, we have offered all of our colleagues at the coffin factory a fair pay increase. We are confident that the combined base pay and production bonus for roles within the Coffin Factory remain highly competitive.”
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