More than 95% of Unite members at the site backed strike action on a turnout of 88%, while 97% supported action short of a strike including an overtime ban.
A spokesman for Devro said: “We are currently working with the Union to reach a satisfactory resolution.”
‘Emphatically backed strike action’
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s members at Devro have emphatically backed strike action. This is a cash rich company which can well afford to pay its workers far more than the current offer.
“The parent group has also approved a takeover worth around £564m which would give shareholders a bumper payday. Unite will always support our members fighting back for decent jobs, pay and conditions.”
Devro agreed to a takeover by Germany-based Saria in November last year, with an acquisition that implied an enterprise value of £667m for the sausage skin maker. Saria expected the acquisition to be effected by way of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act before the end of the third quarter of 2023.
Rejected pay offer
Unite announced plans to ballot its members at Devro last month after the union rejected a pay offer from the company which it claimed didn’t cover the cost of living increase of 13.4%. The union expected any strike action to take place from late March.
Unite industrial officer Graham McNab added: “Unite has agreed to enter into talks through Acas to find a positive resolution to this pay dispute before strike action. However, Devro should be under no illusions of our members' willingness to get a fair pay deal.
“Devro is a very wealthy company and our members are only asking for a fair share of this healthy balance sheet. Strike action will be inevitable in a matter of weeks unless Devro makes an offer which meets the aspirations of our members.”
