Wine shortage to hit UK this summer
The UK is set to face a wine shortage over the summer as glass makers and bottle fillers strike over pay, according to trade union chiefs.
Unite, the union behind the Birmingham bin strikes, has said hundreds of its members at the Bristol branch of Encirc, a leading wine packaging firm, would walk out from Thursday until July 5.
Workers based at the site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are said to have been angered after receiving a 3.2 per cent pay rise offer from the firm, with the union claiming it was not consulted about the deal.
Staff are scheduled to take action on specific days across the two-week period in an attempt to impact production as much as possible.
It comes as the Government faces a ' summer of discontent ', with teacher and university strikes possibly also taking place well into the autumn.
'Encirc is choosing not to pay its workers properly'
In a statement, Unite said: 'There is set to be shortages of bottled, box and bags of wine on supermarket shelves this summer as over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth strike over pay and collective bargaining.
'Members at the factory work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rosé and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses.
'Encirc supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK.'
The statement said there would also be 'a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action'.
John Sweeney, the regional officer at Unite, said: 'There's no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making.
'Management has consistently refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer.'
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, criticised the packaging firm's pay offer, saying: 'This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly – but it is choosing not to.'
The union said it supported Encirc's request for Acas, the conciliation service, to step in.
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