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Workers protest to tell Cadbury 'stop paying us buttons!'

9th July 2009

Cadbury workers will be urging their employer to end 'Willy Wonka' wages and play fair on pay during a protest outside the chocolate giant's European Forum today (July 9th).

The protest comes as the workforce considers strike action to protect their pay deal which could see some of the most popular chocolate products in the country disappear from retailers' shelves.

The workers, who come from across Cadbury's UK plants at Bourneville, Chirk, Marlbrook and Somerdale, say the company must honour the final year of a three year pay agreement. 

Cadbury's had agreed a deal of RPI plus 0.5 per cent but with a minimum of 2 per cent for 2009. However, as RPI in February was 0 per cent the company is breaking the original agreement and instead imposing a deal of 0.5 per cent. This comes despite the 30 per cent leap in profits across the company this year.

According to Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the food and retail sector, the company must honour its previous commitment to the workforce: "This broken promise on fair pay is simply not acceptable. Cadbury's managers and shareholders are getting fat on the profits generated by this loyal workforce but while chocolate sales and Cadbury directors salaries' appear to be recession proof, workers' wages are melting away.

"Unite will not accept the injustice of hefty increases for those at the top of the company while the workforce are paid in buttons. The real cost of living is outstripping inflation, which is why the very least these workers deserve is to have their original pay deal honoured.

"Workers know that this move is nothing to do with cutting costs during tough times and everything to do with an employer cynically taking advantage of a recession to attack workers' pay."

The workers will be outside the meeting of Cadbury's European Forum, which takes place on Thursday, July 9th at the Sheridan Skyline Hotel, Heathrow from 1pm. They will be waving placards which say "No to Willy Wonka Pay" and "Go on Cadbury, pay fair". 

The Cadbury's workers make household name products including the Cream Egg, Crunchie and Wispa bars, which are among the most popular chocolate products in the country.

If there is no movement from the management on the issue, Unite will be conducting a consultative ballot of the 1,300-strong workforce for industrial action to oppose the pay deal imposition.

ENDS

For further information, contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861 or Jennie Formby on 07702206436