Business

Unite members employed in the corrugated board sector have voted in favour of the 2008/09 industry-wide national pay agreement with the Confederation of Paper Industries (Corrugated Sector).

The agreement, which won the vote of 64% of the Unite membership, allows for a 3.9% increase in all earnings from 1 September.

Peter Ellis, Unite national officer, said: "The industry in the main has come through a fairly good year in 2007/8 but the next 12 months is not looking so good. We have a high-density union membership in corrugated board who keep themselves up to speed with their industry's ups and downs.

"They are well aware that reduced demand for corrugated packaging is an inevitable consequence of a slow-down in consumer spending. This, together with high raw material and energy costs, is reflected in the pragmatic acceptance of this year's settlement."