Coca-Cola’s supplies could be hit if workers at Europe’s largest soft drinks factory vote to stage a consecutive industrial dispute over pay.
Hundreds of workers at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Wakefield are being elected because the union said its offer of a 6% pay rise was below inflation.
Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said a strike would “inevitably jeopardize” the supply of soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, in the summer.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) said it was taking “robust” measures to protect supplies.
The company added that its paid offering is “very competitive in the market.”
The West Yorkshire site is the largest soft drinks factory in Europe and produces over 50% of the drinks the company sells in the UK.
The facility covers an area roughly the size of 15 football pitches and produces 420,000 cans per hour.
Its products include Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Monster and Relentless.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the company was “making billions of dollars in profits” so it could afford “a decent pay rise”.
Ms Graham said: “His profits are up 37% to a staggering £1.85 billion, but bosses are refusing to pay workers a decent wage rise to keep up with soaring prices.”
A company spokesman said the average total package for a worker in Wakefield is £46,900.
The company said it had also made a “£1,000 payment to all frontline colleagues over the past 12 months to support current cost of living challenges”.
The spokesman said: “While we hope that a solution can be found, we are preparing robust contingency measures and are confident there will be no disruption to our retail customers.”
The company said it “remains committed to maintaining discussions with colleagues,” adding “this offers the prospect of a constructive outcome — as opposed to industrial action.”
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