Workers at sweet producer Valeo, manufacturer of Poppets, Fox’s Glacier Mints, and own-brand sweets on behalf of some of the UK's biggest supermarkets - will push the button to stop production on Monday as they down tools in a bitter dispute with management. 

Dozens of GMB members working at Valeo Confectionary in York will be walking off site on Monday 21 March, as they kick-start industrial action in a dispute over pay and ongoing attacks to their terms and conditions.  

GMB members' attempts to bring the company back to the table to re-open negotiations have so far been refused by the company, leaving beleaguered workers with no choice but to stop production lines as they walk out at 5pm on Monday in the first of a series of two-hour strikes. 

The strike action comes at the same time as notice is served on the Valeo site in Cleckheaton for an industrial action ballot over the same issue. 

Katherine Mitchell, GMB Organiser for Valeo York, said: “GMB members never make the decision to take industrial action lightly.

“However, as inflation and the cost-of-living soars, our members have been left with choosing whether to buy food or heat their homes.  

 “Valeo is profitable thanks to the hard work and commitment of our members, and they deserve to have this recognised through decent rates of pay and having the terms and conditions respected.  

“Instead, Valeo choose to offer our members a derisory below inflation two-year deal, reduce annual leave and overtime premiums, and attack their right to organise for better pay and conditions through the GMB as their trade union.”  

“This is an absolute kick in the teeth for a workforce that bent over backwards to keep the supply chain going right throughout the pandemic.”