Cargill strike ends after seven weeks, with Worksop staff winning 10.4% pay rise

Members of the GMB Union working at the facility in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, voted in favour of a 10.4% pay rise and a one-off payment to help with the cost of living.

The new deal was negotiated between GMB and Cargill and then agreed to by the members seven weeks after strike action first began in late November. A total of 14 days of walkouts took place during this period.

Cargill’s initial pay offer of a 5.5% pay rise and a £1,400 one-time bonus was rejected by workers in early November​​, a deal that Cargill described at the time as a “market competitive offer​”.

Following the conclusion of the pay dispute, GMB organiser Cameron Mitchell credited the workers for keeping Cargill running “day in day out​”.

“After seven long weeks, it’s only right that company bosses finally recognise the value they bring to the company​,” Mitchell added.

“I’m delighted that they’ve stood united as GMB and delivered this outcome."​

In response to an agreement being reached, a Cargill spokesperson told Food Manufacture: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the union. We greatly value our employees and the work they do.”​

Cargill previously told Food Manufacture that 12 of its 34 Worksop employees are members of GMB and that it did not expect production to be disrupted by the industrial action.

Operating in 70 countries around the world, Cargill currently employs more than 160,000 members of staff. Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate makes up part of its food and beverage division and currently has three locations in the UK.

In other news, Food Manufacture looks at the trends set to dominate the drinks market in 2024.​ ​With analysis from several notable figures within the industry, we cover the growing popularity of the no and low alcohol category and the continued importance that consumers are placing on the sustainability of the products that they purchase.