Motherwell based firm delivers meals to restaurants, prisons and schools 
 
Unite can confirm that over 350 workers employed by Brake Brothers based in Newhouse, Motherwell, are being ballot on industrial action in a pay dispute.
 
The strike ballot involving warehouse workers, hygiene and distribution drivers opens today (Tuesday 23 June) and closes on 14 July.
 
Brake Brothers provides wholesale food distribution services from the Newhouse facility to the hospitality and retail sectors. A significant proportion of the company’s work comes from government based contracts to Scottish prisons, schools and social care homes.
 
Unite members have unanimously rejected an unacceptable pay offer which amounted to just a 53 pence per hour rise. The workers based at Newhouse are also being paid thousands less than counterparts in England for doing the exact same role with the pay differential estimated to be around 13.5 per cent.
  
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: “Brake Brothers has served up a pitiful hourly increase which our members have unanimously rejected. It is a very wealthy company and it needs to put a far better offer on the table.”
 
The company which trades under the name SYSCO GB Limited recorded an operating profit of £46.1m in the year up to July 2025, and registered an increase in revenue to £4.59bn. 
 
Unite industrial officer Andy Brown said: “The company can easily afford to make an increase to  its wage offer. If they do not then our membership will take strike action to get what they deserve. This will put at risk food and grocery deliveries throughout Scotland including to schools, prisons and restaurants.”  
 
Notes to Editor
 
For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922.
 
Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org 
 
Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.