Fridge Raiders workers have 'no choice' but to strike over pay

Food factory workers on strike over pay have said the industrial action could impact the supply of some leading UK brands, including Fridge Raiders and Richmond sausages.

Workers at the Pilgrim's Europe food production plant in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, want fairer pay and for staff to be paid equally for breaks.

A spokesperson for Pilgrim's Europe said there were no product shortages and that the company had "already made a number of above-inflation pay offers" which had been rejected by Unite.

Noreen Daly, the Unite representative for the factory workers, said the action would be an "all out long-term strike".

"Nobody wants to be on a picket line, these guys want to be in at work earning their money, getting on with their lives, but we feel we have no choice but to be here to get through to management until they come back with a decent offer," she said.

The strike began on 2 September.

Unite said it marked an escalation of the industrial dispute, following three weeks of previous strikes.

Daly said the company was replacing the skilled workers on strike with inexperienced workers so she believed production at the factory would slow down.

"It will have a major impact because all our skilled workers are out on the line," she said.

"They have workers in there being bussed from different factories, but they don't have the skill that these guys have.

"The morning shift there's 50 of them out here and they're all skilled workers. So it has to impact production massively."

Unite represents about 130 workers employed by Pilgrim's Europe at its Enniskillen factory.

The main picket line is away from the factory at a more prominent position near one of Enniskillen's busiest roundabouts.

Around 40 workers braved the rain with flags and banners on Friday.

Nuala McShane, who has worked at the factory for over 20 years, said the pay was "not fair" for the work they carry out.

"We work from half six in the morning to three o'clock in the afternoon, we are on our feet all day, and the atmosphere is cold, being a food production factory, but that's never taken into consideration," she said.

"And definitely I think that the circumstances warrant more pay than we are getting."

Donal McShea has worked at the factory for four years and said workers were losing money by being on strike.

"Everybody here's taking a financial hit. There's people here 25 years working and they're out here on the line," he said.

"Now, we get a small amount of money from the union, but people feel that we deserve our pay raise so we're very determined and we'll stick it out as long as we have to."

Plamena Marinova, who has worked for Pilgrim's for three years, said most of its skilled workers were on strike.

"That would definitely affect the factory because there are people unskilled there, and they're not going to be able to run Fridge Raiders the same speed as we do and that will definitely slow down the process."

Pilgrim's Europe has more than 40 facilities across the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands and employs more than 17,000 people.

Its portfolio of brands includes Fridge Raiders, Richmond sausages, Denny sausages and Rollover sausages.

In a statement, Pilgrim's Europe said pay increases were offered "across all levels and weighted towards those colleagues on the lowest pay".

The company said it had "put forward proposals aimed at addressing concerns relating to paid breaks for day-shift employees".

"We continue to be available for further constructive dialogue with Unite and are focused on reaching an agreement that is fair, sustainable and in the best interests of our employees and the long-term operation of the site.

"We are grateful to our wider employees for their support in maintaining operations".