Pilgrim's Europe Enniskillen workers begin strike

Pilgrim’s Europe workers at the company’s Enniskillen production facility began continuous strike action at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 2, escalating a dispute over pay and paid breaks that had already led to several weeks of stoppages. Unite, the union representing the workers, said about 130 employees were involved. Food Manufacture reported the start of the all-out strike on Wednesday, citing the unresolved pay row. The Enniskillen action follows earlier strike phases announced in July and August. Unite has said workers are seeking a cost-of-living pay increase and an end to what it described as unequal payment of breaks for day-shift staff. Pilgrim’s Europe has said it has made pay proposals and remains open to further discussions with the union. (unitetheunion.org) ### How did the Enniskillen dispute reach an all-out strike? Unite said on September 1 that the dispute would move to continuous strike action from the morning of September 2 after three weeks of strikes failed to produce a settlement. The union said the escalation would affect Pilgrim’s Europe’s Enniskillen production facility in Northern Ireland. (unitetheunionireland.org) A July 28 Unite statement said earlier strike action had been scheduled to begin on August 4 at the Carran Business Park site in Enniskillen. An August 9 union update said workers then served notice of a further two-week strike from August 17 as the dispute intensified. (unitetheunion.org) ### What are workers and the union asking for? Unite said the workforce is seeking a cost-of-living pay increase and an end to the current unequal payment of breaks. The union said day-shift workers were not fully paid for breaks, unlike other grades. (unitetheunionireland.org) Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said in an earlier August statement that Pilgrim’s was “a very successful company” and called for an acceptable pay offer. The union has framed the dispute as one over both wages and site-level terms. ### What has Pilgrim’s Europe said publicly? Pilgrim’s Europe said, in comments reported by Grocery Gazette, that it had put forward proposals aimed at addressing concerns over paid breaks for day-shift employees. (unitetheunionireland.org) The company said it remained available for “constructive dialogue” with Unite and was focused on reaching an agreement that is fair, sustainable and in the interests of employees and the long-term operation of the site. (grocerygazette.co.uk) Food Manufacture listed the strike as its top story on September 2 and reported that workers had begun the all-out stoppage at the Enniskillen site. The trade publication’s coverage matched Unite’s account that the dispute had moved beyond the earlier strike phases. ### Which products could be affected? Unite said the escalating dispute would affect supply of some leading UK brands, naming Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages and Mr Brains Pork Faggots in its September 1 statement. (grocerygazette.co.uk) The union did not quantify the scale of any disruption. The Enniskillen site dispute comes as Pilgrim’s Europe has remained active elsewhere in its business. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) Food Manufacture reported on August 17 that the company intended to acquire Walkers Deli & Sausage Company from Samworth Brothers. ### What happens next? September 2 is the first day of the continuous strike announced by Unite, and neither the union nor Pilgrim’s Europe has publicly set an end date in the material reviewed. (unitetheunion.org) Pilgrim’s Europe has said it remains available for further talks with Unite, while the union has said the stoppage will continue until the dispute is resolved. (foodmanufacture.co.uk)