Lunchtime meal deal under threat as hundreds of sandwich makers vote to strike

THE lunchtime meal deal is under threat as hundreds of sandwich makers have voted to strike.

More than 500 workers at Greencore are demanding an increase to their £10.53-an-hour pay and will down butter knives from September 11 to October 9.

Greencore made 975million sandwiches and other food-to-go products last year from 16 factories in the UK for all the major supermarkets as well as high street chains such as Boots and Starbucks.

It says that 52 per cent of sandwiches that are bought in supermarkets as a part of a meal deal.

The Unite union says the workers at Greencore’s Manton Wood site in Worksop, Notts, will walk out over poverty levels of pay and claims it is likely to lead to a shortage of sandwiches on the shelves.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Their employer, while making substantial profits, sees fit not to share the spoils with its workers.”

In October, Greencore reported full-year revenue of £1.7billion — up from £1.3billion in 2021.

A rise in the popularity of meal deals is one reason its sales have spiked.

The company said it had been in talks with union reps over pay since January and was disappointed its pay offer was rejected.

Meanwhile, Unite’s Andy Shaw said: “It is not too late to avoid this action, if the company remembers where its profits come from and heads back to the negotiating table with an improved pay offer.”