Workers secure increased pay and conditions after taking industrial action
Over 200 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Encirc at its Avonmouth site have secured a vastly improved pay and conditions deal after taking industrial action.
The workers are employed by Encirc producing and packaging glass bottles for supermarket wines.
After beginning targeted industrial action last month and which continued into early July, the company returned to the negotiating table and a vastly improved deal was agreed.
Pay will increase by 4.4 per cent and which is backdated to January 2025. In addition, pensions will increase by one per cent which is also backdated to January 2025. Overtime rates will improve, with double time paid in future from 19:00 on Friday until 07:00 Monday. The redundancy policy has been improved as has the sickness policy.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at Encirc, who by being prepared to take strike action have secured far better pay and conditions.
 
“This result shows how Unite’s laser like focus on jobs, pay and conditions delivers for our members.”
Crucially the company has dropped its attempt to enforce a pay policy that it would not increase pay above the CPIH rate from each year’s October rate. Such a policy would have seriously undermined Unite’s ability to properly negotiate for its members.
Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: “This was a vitally important dispute as not only have members secured an improved pay deal but ensured they can continue to fully negotiate in future.
 
“The simple message from this dispute is that if workers want better pay and conditions they should join Unite and make sure their colleagues sign up as well.”