Hundreds of tobacco factory workers at British American Tobacco (BAT) have ended a 24-hour strike over pay.
The walkout yesterday by around 400 members of the Amicus union working at BAT’s Southampton plant forms part of a campaign for a 3 per cent wage increase. Members have rejected a 2.6 per cent pay offer.
The union has threatened to hold strikes every Wednesday until the dispute is settled.
John Allot, national officer of Amicus, said the company was on target to make profits of £2bn this year and accused the company of announcing “massive profits while refusing to pay our members fairly”.
BAT’s Allan Short said the company believed its pay offer was “very reasonable in light of the competitive pressures.” He added the factory would remain open for business during the strike.
