Planned strikes have been called off at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners' (CCEP) soft drink plant in Wakefield, England, after a deal was reached to increase workers' pay by up to 18%, the UK's Unite Union said on Tuesday.
Last month, the union announced hundreds of workers at the largest soft drinks plant in Europe would go on strike in June over pay disputes.
"Crippling strikes were due to begin tomorrow (Wednesday 14 June) but a breakthrough in negotiations means there'll be no walk-outs this summer," Unite said in a statement.
Salary Increases
The deal will see workers' salaries increase by between £3,476 and £3,876 in the first 12 months, with further increases from April 2024, the union said.
"The agreed deal at Wakefield is very much in line with the approach we have adopted at other sites, with a 6% headline pay increase alongside other, locally negotiated, items that improve flexibility," the company said in an emailed statement.
"We are pleased that these pay negotiations are now concluded."
Glass Costs
In February, CCEP told Reuters that it expects to hike prices further, and said glass costs would rise by the 'mid-teen to low double digits' this year at a time when it is trying to sell more returnable glass bottles.
Glass shortages have persisted for beverage companies and other manufacturers since the pandemic, with the issue compounded by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Read More: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Warns Prices, Glass Costs Will Rise Further
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