Supermarket shelves could be left EMPTY of wine this summer as factory workers at major bottling company plan strike
Supermarket shelves could be left empty of wine this summer, as factory workers at a major bottling company plan a strike.
More than 200 workers in Bristol are planning to strike over pay and collective bargaining between June 19 and July 5 - in a move which could leave shoppers scrambling for wine.
The Unite members at the Avonmouth site work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rose 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.
According to Unite, Encirc is a 'very profitable company' with a turnover of over £600M, supplying all the big supermarkets with bottles, boxes and bags of wine.
Unite says the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite and has repeatedly stated that from now on it will only give pay rises tied to inflation.
This means any pay increases will be set by Encirc without negotiations with Unite before being imposed on workers, the union added.
Previously, the union said it had been able to negotiate with management on pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need.
'This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to.
'Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute.'
Strikes will take place between June 19 and July 5, with workers in different parts of the business taking strike action on different dates and times according to production schedules to have the biggest impact.
There will also be a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action.
Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: 'There is 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 constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer.'
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