United action: Striking staff picket teacake company

STAFF at biscuit makers Tunnock's have staged a second 24-hour walk-out in a row over pay.

Organisers said about 350 workers at the home of the Tunnock's teacake, snowball and caramel wafer took part in the strike yesterday after pay deal talks broke down earlier this month.

Tunnock's made an offer of a 2 per cent rise, but staff voted at a meeting last Wednesday to go ahead with the first 24-hour walk-out the following day while workers were balloted on the figure, Unite said.

The union's regional industrial organiser, Derek Ormston, said he could not rule out further strike action if members rejected the offer.

"We are now waiting on the outcome of the postal ballot of the former offer of 2 per cent. If our members reject that, there is potential for further strike action.

"It is difficult to predict what the outcome will be, but our members made a decision to continue with the planned action before they knew what the outcome of the postal ballot would be."

On Thursday last week, 60 workers waved Unite flags and chanted "we want fair pay" outside Tunnock's factory on the corner of Old Mill Road in Uddingston.

A continuous overtime ban and work-to-rule also started last Thursday.