Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate employees based at its Worksop, Nottinghamshire site have accepted a 10.4% pay rise, ending a long-running dispute over pay.
The more than a dozen workers, who are members of trade union GMB, voted to back strike action last year in a ballot, with 100% of them in favour.
This was following an employer offer during negotiations of a 5.5% increase and a £1,400 one-off bonus payment. The staff and the union rejected this offer as they stated that it was not in line with inflation, instead asking for a 7.5% pay increase and a £1,400 payment.
As well as the 10.4% pay rise, the workers will receive a one-off cost-of-living payment as part of the new offer.
The employees have to date undertaken 14 days of strike action across seven weeks since late November 2023. The offer acceptance will also end over-time bans at the firm.
Cameron Mitchell, organiser at GMB, said: “These workers keep Cargill running, day in day out. They aren’t demanding gold-wrapped pay-outs, instead they’re asking for a pay packet that covers the bills. After seven long weeks, it’s only right that bosses finally recognise the value they bring to the business. I’m delighted that they’ve stood united as GMB and delivered this outcome.”
A Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate spokesperson added: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the union. We greatly value our employees and the work they do.”
Back in November 2023, it stated: “We greatly value our employees and the work they do. We continue to focus on fulfilling customer orders and use our broad supply chain footprint to minimise any disruptions. As we continue to facilitate meaningful discussions, we do not currently want to issue any further comments.”