Business

Strike action at two UK packaging manufacturers has been averted following ballots of union members.

Workers at Alcan’s Salterbeck site in Cumbria, who were poised to strike, voted in favour of a new sick pay scheme agreed by the confectionery packaging manufacturer and Amicus.

Meanwhile, staff at Field First’s carton manufacturing plant in Newcastle voted in favour of revised terms and conditions after the company threatened to close the site.

Alcan revised its sick pay after it experienced prolonged high levels of sick days.

Amicus regional officer Peter Ellis said: “We are looking forward to a period of stability where our members and the firm can concentrate on the wellbeing of the plant in the light of pressures from national and international competition.”

Field and Amicus refused to reveal further details of the new terms and conditions at the Newcastle site.

But Amicus regional officer Vernon Robson said he was disappointed that the company imposed a 90-day notice period over the potential closure of the plant during the negotiations.

The ballot at Newcastle ended a dispute that started in December 2006.

A dispute at Field’s Bradford plant was resolved earlier this year.