Industrial action averted, pay talks completed at York factory

After many months of difficult negotiations, a settlement has been reached at the Kit Kat factory in York providing for a 3.25% salary increase

and an additional 1% incentive linked to worker participation in the "zero accidents" safety process. This encompasses one-on-one safety visits between employees using the "coaching approach" and discussion by teams of safety information posted on bulletin boards.

The increase applies for the 15-month period from January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013.

The membership rejected previous pay offers at the rate of 90% in June and 94% in July and requested a ballot on industrial action following the July pay ballot. The final settlement won the approval of 80% of the membership.