PrintWeek understands that Unite members are unhappy with a number of actions taken by the company’s management, culminating recently in the loss of sick pay.

Employees took a 13% pay reduction over a year ago to help the company during the difficult financial period. Staff were on the understanding that a review would come 12 months later with a view to getting wages back up. However, nothing has been forthcoming.

A Unite member, who did not wish to be named, said that further sanctions had started to be imposed upon staff, which eventually led to last week’s strike action.

The member said: "Pay is being deducted for lateness, which was never the case before and they have stopped sick pay."
Withdrawing the company’s sick pay, which for most companies would include full pay up to a maximum number of weeks and reduced pay thereafter, means employees will now only be entitled to the statutory £81.60 a week or the equivalent daily rate.

Following these latest austerity measures, staff at the site balloted for industrial action as well as a number of measures short of industrial action.

As a result, both day and night shifts went on strike for two hours last Friday, with similar action taking place today (13 May). Members have also begun working to rule, including taking breaks during the middle of their shifts and refusing to help unload lorries, among other action.

Steve Sibbald, national officer at Unite, said: "I think the staff had just had enough. It was one thing after another from the management and eventually one of the straws was going to break the camel’s back.

"This kind of thing is happening more and more now. After three years of austerity, pressure and wage freezes, employees are saying ‘no more’."

Wyndeham declined to comment.