McBrides workers stage 24-hour strike over pay

Manchester, UK – Hundreds of GMB members at McBrides in Middleton, Manchester are began a 24-hour strike on 9 Dec, in a dispute over pay. GMB members are manning picket lines outside McBride’s Middleton Way factory. The company employs 500 workers, most of whom are members of GMB, accordin to the trade union.

The dispute comes after talks to avert the 24-hour strike failed to reach an agreement. There has been an offer of 2.3% but it includes possible bonus earnings that members consider can not be achieved, said the GMB. The company failed yesterday to get an injunction in the High Court in Manchester to stop the strike.

McBrides produces own label household goods like soaps and personal hygiene products for supermarkets including Tesco and Carrefour. It has seen sales surge during the recession as consumers trade down from branded products.

The company posted £36.2m in annual pre-tax profits to the end of June which is a 34% rise on last year. Most of the workers are paid not much more than the national minimum wage of £5.85 per hour, cliam the GMB.

GMB officer Sandra Blight, said “GMB did not recommended that our members who are paid not much more than the national minimum wage and who work for this profitable company should accept the offer. A 2.3% offer which includes a bonus that can not be earned was balloted on and rejected by the membership around three weeks ago.”