Ed Leach - Usdaw Area Organiser says: “Despite long and detailed discussions, the company has so far refused to offer a suitable financial incentives for employees who have moved shift or will be expected to move onto the new 24/7 shift pattern. As a result of the failure to agree, Usdaw conducted a ballot for industrial action and members have overwhelmingly backed a series of 24 hour strikes.

“It is deeply regrettable that the company has pushed staff to this point and we hope that they will look again at their offer, continue to negotiate with us and seek a solution that will avoid the industrial action backed by our members.”

Notes for Editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

The industrial action will affect Weetabix workplaces in Corby and Kettering, with the first day of action taking place in the New Year.  Each strike day will run for 24 hours with no more than one strike to take place in a single week.

The formal strike ballot of 243 members was conducted by an independent scrutineer (Electoral Reform Services), which opened on Monday 5 December and closed at noon on Monday 19 December.

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion