UPDATE: Parliamentary candidate urges Fox’s Biscuits to work with union over strike

A Labour parliamentary candidate has weighed in and urged the company to work with its staff on the row.

Batley and Spen candidate Jo Cox said: “Industrial action is the last resort for workers who are desperate to be heard, especially when you consider the impact of lost wages on staff and their families who are already struggling with the Government’s cost of living crisis.

“I urge the management at Fox’s to work with their employees and their union representatives to resolve this issue so that no one suffers.

“Labour is committed to making sure everyone who works can afford to live. Making sure all work pays a decent wage will make our economy stronger.”

Unite regional officer Sarah Mitchell said: “We believe that the offer for the pay year due to have started last August is paltry and insulting and the offer for year two is not much better.

“The fact that the company did not even come to us with an offer until November 17, despite two previous meetings makes it worse and leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

“We expect biscuit production to be disrupted and we call on the management to sit down with us to discuss a realistic pay offer from this profitable company before our members strike next week.”

The 42 Unite members plan to walk out on Tuesday, 4am-10am, and Thursday, 4am-10am.

Unite said its members at Fox’s, in Wellington Street, had voted 65 per cent in favour of the strike.

A spokesman for Fox’s parent company, the 2 Sisters Food Group, said: “We note the news from Unite about potential action next week by engineering colleagues at Batley. We are still in dialogue with Unite and their members and working hard to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution and avoid this. However, in the event of action taking place, we do not expect this to impact on our service to customers.”