Daily Bread – Strike by Hovis workers could cause hold ups

Daily Bread – Strike by Hovis workers could cause hold ups

Workers at the Hovis site in south Belfast have voted “overwhelmingly” for strike action, the union says.

More than 90% of Unite union members at the Hovis plant at Apollo Road have voted in favour of industrial action ‘up to and including strike action’. The factory produces a large proportion of Northern Ireland’s daily bread

Bread production workers are demanding a 10% pay boost. The plant is understood to produce around 50% of bread made in Northern Ireland with many other brands baked there as well as Hovis. Union Unite says pickets are to be deployed at the Hovis plant from 6am on Friday. Just over 90 per cent of their members voted in favour of taking action.

The break workers are seeking a ten per cent pay boost. A meeting between management and union reps is planned later in the week. If the strike goes ahead, sources have indicated there would be bread shortages by the weekend.