STRIKING workers at five Princes Food factories have accused their employer of union-busting after the company threatened to transfer their jobs overseas.

The Unite members agreed a pay rise of between 5 to 7 per cent, with Princes former owner Mitsubishi in August last year.

Princes was then taken over by Italian food conglomerate Newlat, which Unite said reneged on the deal.

Workers at the factories in Cardiff, Lincolnshire, Glasgow, Bradford and Wisbech have taken strike action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “If Princes thinks its threats will weaken workers’ resolve, it has another think coming.

“This is appalling behaviour from a shameful company. First it pulled the rug from under our members by reneging on a pay deal and now it is threatening their jobs with these union-busting tactics.

“Unite won’t stand for such tactics and will be backing our members every step of the way in their dispute.”

The company was invited to comment.