PACKAGING shortages at some of Britain’s largest food and drink outlets are likely after print workers in County Durham launched four weeks of strikes today, their union Unite has warned.

More than 90 staff at the Darlington-based packaging firm Cepac, whose customers include Greggs, Costa, Subway and Pret a Manger, are set to down tools from September 11 over pay and conditions.

Given the “just in time” nature of the food, drink and retail sectors, the company’s customers, which also include Tesco, Asda, Mars and Carlsberg, will “swiftly run out” of supplies, the union predicted.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham slammed bosses for offering a below-inflation 8 per cent wage boost with “more strings attached than an orchestra.”

The already-rejected deal, which followed a postponement of previous planned strikes to facilitate further talks, included “significant detrimental conditions, including longer hours, lower overtime rates and a change in shift patterns,” according to the union.

It warned of a further deterioration in industrial relations, accusing senior managers of threatening to impose the changes by force.

“There is no way our members will accept worse conditions,” Ms Graham warned, arguing the wealthy firm, which reported £34 million profits in 2021, can “fully afford to make a fair pay offer but is instead trying to cut terms to boost profits.

“Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first – the workers at Cepac will receive the union’s complete support.”

Unite regional officer Pat McCourt said: “Strike action is set to cause shortages of packaging across the food, drink and retail industry but this dispute is entirely of Cepac’s own making.

“Unite has bent over backwards to try to secure an agreement and not only has the company refused to listen, it is making further threats to our members.

“Cepac needs to return to negotiations with an offer our members can accept.”

Cepac group managing director Steve Moss told the Morning Star: “The company has continued to present alternative and improved offers to Unite who have failed to fully and realistically engage with the company on these offers.

"The pay awards on offer range from 8 per cent to 17.5 per cent dependent upon individual roles with a focus on transforming the business to become a profitable centre of excellence for sustainable packaging.

"Along with the generous pay awards offered, the company is seeking to make some minor changes to terms and conditions, including a small increase in working hours for some employees. These changes are an essential part of the plan to increase productivity to ensure future growth and investment at Darlington.

"It is sad that Unite seem unable to engage positively to ensure the future of the employees at the site.’’

The company supplies supermarket giants Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, smoothie firm Innocent Drinks, French aperitif liqueur company Pernod Ricard and premium drinks business Diageo.