Freezer food shortage as workers plan walkout

Shoppers may face a shortage of frozen food goods this autumn, as staff plan extensive strikes. The 70 employees who are in charge of supermarket fridge freezer repairs and supplies are protesting in response to a row over pay

Shopper have been warned that frozen favourites, such as oven chips, pizzas and peas could be hard to find, due to strike action by supermarket freezer workers.

Around 70 staff at Epta, which supplies and repairs industrial fridges and freezers for major stores across the UK, will down tools on six separate dates from October 15 in a row over pay.

Unite, the trade union representing the workers, said major supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons and the Co-op are facing delays in key infrastructure due to the planned walk-outs by staff at the Bradford-based firm. It added that Epta faces "severe disruption" to its suppliers.

A spokesperson said: "Workers undertake skilled work, where they build, paint, test and pack industrial fridges and freezer units for major supermarkets. The strike action will inevitably result in a delay in orders being fulfilled and will mean that the supermarkets will not have the fridges and freezers that they need in order to maintain their stock.

"Unite said its members had voted for walkouts after rejecting a 4% pay rise offer. It added: "The workers are paid barely above the minimum wage, despite undertaking skilled work. "They have seen their pay differential, compared to the minimum wage,
steadily whittled away over recent years. The workers will take extensive strike action across the second half of this month, on October 15, 17, 21, 23, 29 and 31."

Unite regional officer Neil Whitaker added: "Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption for Epta’s customers, but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making. It has had every chance to make a fair offer that recognises the skills of our members, but has failed to do so.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members are no longer prepared to accept low pay. "Epta should be ashamed of the manner it is treating its loyal workforce. "Unite’s complete focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members means that the union’s members at Epta will receive our total support."

Epta was contacted for comment.