Workers for A.G. Barr, the famous name behind Irn Bru, have backed plans for strike action amida dispute over pay.
Supplies of the iconic drink are now under threat as around a dozen trucker and shunter drivers at the Cumbernauld production and distribution centre have supported the move.
The strike action comes after a 5 per cent pay offer was rejected. Unite state this would equate to a real-terms pay cut of 6.3 per cent, based on the current RPI rate of 11.3 per cent.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “Summer supplies of Irn-Bru could fizzle out in a matter of weeks due to A.G. Barr’s derisory pay offer. The company has £52.9m sitting in the bank, yet management are refusing to share this massive money pot with their workers. We will back our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The beverage company increased its revenue by 18.2 per cent to £317.6m for the year ended on January 29, 2023.
Andy Brown, Unite industrial officer said: “Unite’s members emphatically backed strike action due to A.G. Barr’s tight-fistedness. What’s currently on the table is really taking the fizz. It’s totally unacceptable because the company is cash rich. We remain open to resolving this dispute through negotiation but unless there is a significant improvement in the pay offer strike action is on the cards.”
A spokesperson from AG Barr says: “We’re disappointed in today’s decision by a small number of our drivers to take industrial action.
“We made an offer which we believe is fair and competitive to our HGV1 drivers. It is also in line with what has been agreed with our other employees and we believe we have a responsibility to be fair to everyone.
“We have contingency plans in place to maintain customer service and we will continue to work with Unite representatives to find a positive and constructive resolution.”
