Tangerine repeats disappointment at today’s strike

14-Nov-2016 - Last updated on 14-Nov-2016 at 12:27 GMT

The GMB union is staging a strike today at Tangerine's York manufacturing site

Tangerine Confectionery has repeated its “disappointment” at the strike staged today (November 14) at its York manufacturing site by members of the GMB union.

The manufacturer again claimed its enhanced pay and break time offer was “a positive step forward for the long-term future of this historic factory”.

Tangerine highlighted its £8M investment at the site during what it described as “a period of intense competition” within the UK confectionery market.

A Tangerine spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Our door remains open to the GMB to resolve this amicably …”.

The spokesman said the factory remained operational and thanked “the many staff” who turned up to work.

The GMB said talks between the union and Tangerine management broke down last Friday (November 11) following initial strike action last week.

‘Deeply frustrating situation’

GMB organiser Ben Kirkham said: “This is a deeply frustrating situation. Workers have made it very clear to the employer that they are not happy with the erosion of their terms and conditions especially as there has been a 36% increase in production capacity, which has not been reciprocated by the company in annual pay talks this year.

"No one wants a strike but the previous action on Tuesday I believe, shows the level of our members’ anger at the company’s unwillingness to listen to them. This hasn’t been helped by the company’s sedate approach to resolving the dispute. It’s disappointing and has a sour taste in workers' mouths. They remain resolute and will not go cap in hand.”

‘Workers’ terms and conditions’

The union claimed the company had maintained its stance that any improvement to its offer – which was previously rejected by 86% of union members in a ballot – “would have to be self-funded by again eating away at workers' terms and conditions”.

GMB said it had proposed a 15-month and 18-month deal to resolve the dispute. But both offers had been rejected by the company.

Tangerine’s York manufacturing site makes a wide range of traditional sweets, including: Sherbet Lemons, Butter Mintoes, Blackcurrant & Liquorice as well as caramels, chews and luxury fudge.

Meanwhile the manufacturer’s £8M investment at the site over the past three years was understood to have created 27 permanent full-time jobs.