By Dave Lord

AN INCREASINGLY bitter dispute over pay and pension conditions led to furious workers walking out of a Perthshire poultry factory yesterday.

Around 50 people maintained a picket outside the Coupar Angus plant, with one official insisting their resolve would “not be broken.”

Police maintained a visible presence and were keeping a close eye on proceedings.

The strike action started as early as around 5.40am, although some union members joined non-union workers and agency staff in crossing the picket.

A spokesman for operators Grampian Country Foods said the company was “disappointed” at the decision to strike but insisted production had continued “as normal.”

“We are disappointed that the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) has taken industrial action at a number of our sites,” the spokesman said.

“Discussions continue to take place between management teams and local union representatives to reach a resolution.

“We are confident that throughout this process the impact on our business will be minimal and will be managed without any disruption to the supply of products to our customer base.”

The spokesman added that, while there was what he described as a small picket line outside the Coupar Angus plant, production inside continued as normal.

The industrial action came just one week after the postponement of a planned 24-hour strike at the factory and follows the lack of any “meaningful” talks in the interim.

Senior shop steward at the Perthshire factory Ian Darroch said staff were fed up with their “ridiculous wages.”

“Everyone is unhappy about the situation,” he said.

“There were pay freezes in 2006 across the company.

“The firm has put off meaningful consultation…and we have not really been getting anywhere.

“People are working in the Coupar Angus factory for £5.65 an hour—many have expensive travel costs from Perth and Dundee and we believe it is a ridiculous wage.”

The TGWU claimed well over 50% of its members employed by Grampian Foods nationwide backed the 24-hour strike.

Talks in the wake of last year’s pay freeze broke down when union officials sought a 5% rise for their members. The firm was apparently only willing to offer 3%.

“They are trying to break our resolve but we are standing firm,” Mr Darroch continued.

“If this strike does not have the desired effect we will stage further walk-outs.”

Tam Coyle from Blairgowrie was among those joining the picket.

“We have been offered a 3% rise for next year, but 3% of nothing is still nothing as far as I am concerned,” he said.

The Perthshire strike was mirrored at Grampian Country Foods plants in Cambuslang near Glasgow and Fairview near Edinburgh.

Scott Foley, regional industrial organiser with the TGWU, said, “It was clear to us that while local management in Scotland claimed to be free to negotiate with us, in reality their hands were tied by their company’s policy across the UK and we were unable to arrive at a settlement.”