How do bosses sleep at night, striking worker asks?
GMB’s Fox’s Glacier Mint strike enters day three today [Wednesday 23 March 2022] as workers down tools over pay and attacks to terms and conditions.
Workers at the Valeo Factory in York – who also produce Poppets and Mint Humbugs - feel they have been left with no choice but to leave their production lines for two hours each day.
Despite the cost-of-living crisis - and rampant inflation - bosses have offered below inflation pay rise.
Lowest paid workers are also excluded from a one-off payment, while others are set to lose two days holiday a year.
The company has also given notice to GMB they want to end collective bargaining at the York site.
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.”
Katherine Mitchell, GMB Organiser for Valeo York, 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.
“We call on Valeo to get back round the table, re-open talks and do the right thing by its workforce.”
