GMB workers are on strike over pay and conditions at York factory where Fox’s mints and M&S sweets are made

Sweet makers are on strike for the fourth day following a below-inflation pay offer.

Staff from the York factory where Fox’s Glacier Mints are made have spoken out about their decision to strike amid a cost of living crisis.

What is the dispute about?

After voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in February, workers at Valeo Foods will walk out today (14 April) in a dispute over working conditions and pay.

This is the second round of strike action called by GMB members at the site, after workers say a below-inflation below offer has left them with no other choice.

Staff at the factory say are unable to publicly speak out against their employer due to fear of losing their job. A striking Valeo worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was nerve-racking walking out the first time to take industrial action, but what choice did we have?

“Many of my friends at Valeo have kids to feed and clothe and it’s just getting harder and harder for them with the cost of living the way it is.

“Some are now going without so they can provide for their kids - I don’t know how Valeo bosses sleep at night.

“All we want is a decent rate of pay that we can live on - and respect from management. It’s not too much to ask for.”

Why are workers on strike?

According to the trade union, the new pay offer would exclude the lowest-paid workers from a one-off payment and remove two holidays a year from others.

Workers say bosses have also threatened them with ‘fire and rehire’ unless they agree to new contracts, though Valeo has strongly denied this claim.

Conservative MPs were criticised after failing to vote in favour of a law banning ‘fire and rehire’ in the wake of P&O Ferries sacking 800 staff last month.

GMB organiser Katherine Mitchell told NationalWorld that Valeo refused to increase the offer, despite an improved offer being made to workers at another plant owned by the company in Pontefract.

She said: These are low paid workers, who work in hard and difficult conditions to produce sweets for various supermarkets and suppliers, including M&S.

“All they want is a decent day’s pay for doing it.

“They’ve taken the step to walk out mid-shift, which is an historic and very brave thing to do, bearing in mind the bullying and intimidation that they have had to endure.”

‘Do the right thing’

GMB has criticised M&S for continuing to purchase from Valeo despite concerns raised by workers, given M&S’s commitment to ethical supply chains.

The trade union has called for Valeo to re-open negotiations and “do the right thing by its workforce.”

The workers have also received support from Labour MP Rachel Maskell, who told NationalWorld she has spoken to the company and asked them to “consider changing their practices”.

She said: “The Valeo Foods staff, hailed as essential workers during the pandemic, are being rewarded with cuts to their terms and conditions of employment, while losing their right to collective bargaining, as their company, and Bain Capital, the holding equity share company, continue to profit.

“Everyone recognises that these are difficult days for the food industry as production costs go up, but these proposals pre-date the challenging situation in Ukraine. Rather than imposing new contracts on staff, they should be fairly rewarding staff.”

A spokesperson for Valeo Snackfoods said: “We engaged in very positive and constructive conversations with our colleagues as part of a routine annual pay review process. GMB only represent a very small proportion of staff on site however, the staff forum, which represents all 200 employees on site, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the deal presented which included pay increases across the business, and all employees are now operating under this agreed package.”