Heinz faces strike over 'stingy' pay offer

Workers at Heinz could be balloted for strikes in a row over pay, the Unite union warned today.

Unite said its members at the food giant's site in Wigan were pressing for a vote in protest at a below inflation rise this year and a capped increase for next year of 3%.

Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for food and drink, said: "There is absolutely no need for Heinz to be so stingy. The baked beans produced here are favourites in every household in the land. In these difficult economic times, Heinz are doing exceptionally well with massive profits this year and forecasts to do the same in 2011.

"So why tell workers that they can only have 3.3% this year when shareholders get offered a tasty 10%?

"It is unfair, utterly against the corporate responsibility principles paraded by the Heinz family and the injustice is making our members angry."

Unite said it would begin the formal process of preparing to ballot members at the Wigan site within weeks unless the pay offer is increased.