News

Industrial action could be escalated at Promens Packaging's site in Beccles, Suffolk after a walkout yesterday (8 July).

It is believed that staff formed a picket line and passing cars beeped their horns in support, but the company said rising raw materials, energy, oil and transportation costs meant it could not increase its 2.2% pay offer.

Unite regional industrial organiser Ivan Crane said staff at Promens had reluctantly accepted below inflation pay offers over the past few years, but now they have said "enough is enough".

Promens UK human resources manager Sharon Hill said employees were given an increase which was close to the current inflation rate.

"With today's inflation rate sitting at 3% we feel that the increase was viable in the current economic climate."

She added that employees in Deeside, Thetford and the engineering unit at Beccles had accepted the offer and the company was "disappointed" at the action being taken.

The current rate of inflation, according to the government's Retail Prices Index, is 4.3%.

Crane was unavailable to comment, but it is thought that further strikes are planned for today and next week, although Unite hopes an agreement with the company can be reached before this.

Hill said if the union representatives had options for the company's consideration, Promens would be "happy to discuss these with them at any time".

Promens, formerly known as Fibrenyle, is one of three UK packaging facilities owned by Icelandic firm Promens. It employs 255 people at the Ellough Industrial Estate in Beccles.