Irn-Bru supplies could ‘dry up’ as union announces nine days of driver strikes next month
- Trucker and shunter drivers at AG Barr will strike from August 11 to October 6
- The strike is over a pay dispute, after members rejected a five per cent raise
Irn-Bru supplies could be at risk of ‘drying up’ as nine days of driver strikes have been announced for next month over pay disputes.
Unite has said its trucker and shunter drivers at AG Barr’s production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, will down tools for 24 hours over the course of nine days, starting on August 11 and finishing on October 6.
A continuous ban on overtime is set to start on August 8.
The union said the drivers are ‘essential’ to the supply of the company’s products, which includes Irn-Bru, but AG Barr has said it has contingency plans in place.
It has said the dispute involves around 10 members of staff.
Unite union has warned that supplies of the popular drink Irn-Bru could ‘dry up’ as a result of the strikes
The workers involved previously backed strike action by a majority of 83 per cent, after the offered five per cent wage increase was rejected
Trucker and shunter drivers at AG Barr’s production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, will down tools for 24 hours over the course of nine days
The workers involved previously backed strike action by a majority of 83 per cent, after the offered five per cent wage increase was rejected.
Irn-Bru is a popular carbonated soft drink, which is mostly associated with Scotland. It is bright orange, and has been the top-selling drink in the north for over a century, having been introduced to the market in 1901.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: ‘Supplies of Irn-Bru could dry up in a few weeks due to the key role our members carry out for AG Barr.
‘The company is cash rich with £52.9 million chilling in the bank. Yet, they are offering our members a significant, real-terms pay cut when they can easily afford to pay more.
‘We will back our members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.’
An AG Barr spokesperson said: ‘We’re disappointed in the decision by around 10 of our Scottish based HGV1 drivers to take industrial action.
‘We made an offer that we believe is fair and competitive – in line with what has been agreed with our other employees. We believe we have a responsibility to be fair to everyone.
‘We have contingency plans in place to maintain customer service and we will continue to work with Unite representatives and Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to find a positive and constructive resolution.’
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