Crisp factory drivers will not strike over pay dispute (From The Northern Echo)
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Drivers at Walkers distribution centre, in Peterlee, County Durham, vote not to take industrial action
6:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Business News
By Steven Hugill
WORKERS at a North-East crisp factory will not strike over a pay dispute.
Drivers at Walkers Snack distribution centre, in Peterlee, County Durham, had been voting on plans to take industrial action after turning down the company's wage increase proposals.
The company had put forward a two per cent rise for workers on day shifts and a 1.5 per cent increase for employees working nightshifts.
Stephen Thompkins, from the GMB Union, said 26 drivers had been balloted on strike action after they were offered wages the firm believed were the same as similar companies' pay structures.
PepsiCo UK, which owns Walkers, said the changes were competitive. Mr Thompkins said: “We balloted members but did not get the support to follow that through and there will be no further action.”
A PepsiCo spokesperson previously told The Northern Echo it was disappointed by the ballot for industrial action and believed the salary structure was fair and competitive.
PepsiCo makes Walkers crisps and the company's Extra Crunchy range at its adjoining Peterlee plant, though none of its workers were involved in the ballot.
