WORKERS at a cake factory in Hull are threatening industrial action if pay negotiations continue to stall.
Staff at Greencore have been offered a two per cent rise but they are seeking a seven per cent increase to put them in line with the living wage, which stands at £7.65.
Management at the factory in Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, east Hull, have not met with representatives from the Unite union since October 27.
One worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, says strike action is a possibility should negotiations fail.
He said: "We are in the middle of pay negotiations, but we have already reached a stalemate.
"In our first meeting we asked for the living wage to be introduced, which would represent a rise of around seven per cent.
"We knew they wouldn't agree to this, but it was a starting point.
"They came back to us with a rise of two per cent this year and two and a half per cent next year. This was turned down by everyone at the staff meetings.
"We have been pressing for another meeting with management but they haven't met with us for three weeks."
About 700 workers are employed at the site, including 550 factory staff, most of whom are union members.
Staff say the company made an operating profit of £76.5 million last year.
The worker said: "It seems to us that management are stalling and probably won't give us any more.
"Many of us are now very close to the minimum wage.
"Many people are struggling to pay their bills and support their families. Morale at the factory is low and we just want the respect and pay we deserve.
"We are looking at our options, but the union members want to go on strike if nothing better is offered.
"Industrial action is a real possibility."
It is thought around 100 workers at the factory are on the minimum wage. No increase is proposed for this group.
One worker, who is on the minimum wage, said: "We had a similar dispute two years ago.
"Those of us on minimum wage would be happy just getting a one per cent rise to put our pay above those who have only just started or work for an agency. The feeling is bad at the place and morale is low.
"We are definitely ready to strike if we have to."
Greencore insists negotiations are still at an early stage.
A spokesman for the company said: "Pay negotiations are still ongoing and nothing has yet been agreed. Greencore offered the union a deal, which it rejected.
"The union has come back with new proposals for the company to consider and discussions are continuing."
Greencore says it is doing its level best to improve morale at the Hull site.
The spokesman said: "Greencore has an open, inclusive and collegiate culture, and our Hull site has worked particularly hard in recent years on a range of initiatives to increase and improve employee engagement and development."
Greencore supplies pre-packed sandwiches to supermarkets, including Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Asda.
Desserts and cakes are made at the Hull site.
No stranger to disputesGREENCORE'S Hull factory is no stranger to industrial disputes.
Workers took a temporary pay cut in 2010 to help the company after it lost a £7m contract with Sainsbury's.
But Greencore failed to reinstate the original pay and conditions and sought to remove shift, overtime and bank holiday payments. It led to workers carrying out a 24-hour strike in January last year. In March last year, the company agreed to reinstate the original pay and conditions.
In July 2012, workers staged a protest after accusing Greencore of threatening to cut 236 jobs.
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