A WREXHAM based ready meal manufacturer has issued a statement on strike action by its workers which begins this week.

More than 550 workers at the company's Rowan Food site on Wrexham Industrial Estate voted by 98 per cent in a ballot with a 76 per cent turnout in favour of strike action.

They are angry at the company’s 'fire and rehire' proposal, and plans to remove some paid breaks, reduce other breaks and eradicate any enhanced payments and days off in lieu for working bank holidays, Unite the union said. 

Unite said Oscar Mayer is planning to fire and rehire the workers on new contracts if they do not voluntarily accept the changes, which will see their take home pay plummet.

Claims by the union that Oscar Mayer hasn't engaged in consultation with it have been refuted by the company. 

A spokesperson for Oscar Mayer, said: “In May 2024 we put a number of proposals to our colleagues in our Wrexham factory around changing some paid breaks to unpaid for weekly paid colleagues, and the removal of enhanced rates on bank holidays and the provision of time off in lieu for all colleagues.

"These proposals are not made lightly, but we believe are necessary to protect the long-term sustainability of our business and the jobs we provide in the local community. These changes would put us in line with most other businesses in our sector and similar businesses in the local area. 

“The proposals have been subject to a full and proper consultation process with our colleagues, which is on-going, and we have engaged fully with Unite during this process. The fact that we have agreed to a number of alternative proposals put forward by colleagues underscores the fact that there has been effective dialogue throughout, and that consultation has been constructive."

They added: “We remain committed to an ongoing dialogue as we work to reach agreement with our colleagues.”

Strikes will take place from September 12 to October 10. Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved, Unite the union said.