Strike action at Glen Dimplex, Portadown over pay

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Staff members employed by Glen Dimplex at Portadown will participate in a one-day strike action on Monday [15 December].

The strike involves approximately 30 workers across a variety of specialist roles including maintenance, engineering, quality, administrative and supervisory functions. The strike will commence from 00.01 on Monday [15 December] continuing until 0200 on Tuesday [16 December] with pickets on both gates forming from 07:00 hours.

The staff voted unanimously for strike action having rejected an insulting 45 pence pay offer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Glen Dimplex’s pay offer is pathetic and amounts to a large real-terms pay cut for staff. Our members are determined to secure a decent pay deal and they have the full support of Unite behind them.”

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Christmas shortages of Guinness Zero as strikes at Diageo plant in Belfast back on after workers reject substandard pay offer

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Empty shelves could greet shoppers looking for Guinness Zero this Christmas after Unite members at Diageo in Belfast voted overwhelmingly to reject an inadequate pay offer from management and to take strike action.

Around 90 workers will commence an eight-day strike from 7am on Friday 12 December continuing until the early hours of Saturday 29 December. A previous eight-day strike was due to commence on Friday 5 December but was suspended by workforce reps to allow consideration of the new pay offer made the day before.

The strike will shut down the site which is the world’s largest producer of Guinness Zero cans. The workers are seeking a pay deal ending the pay gap with Diageo’s site in Runcorn, England.

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Spirit takeover must lead to investment for jobs and a future for NI aerospace, Unite

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Airbus will take on production lines in the supply chain of its own aircraft with Boeing taking over the remainder of the sites.

Unite has called on Boeing and Airbus to confirm their plans for Spirit Aerosystems following today’s announcement that the manufacturer’s sites in Northern Ireland will transfer over to the aerospace giants.

Unite’s team of workplace reps are actively engaging with management of both companies to determine their plans for the future.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Today’s announcement must lead to commitments for jobs, investment and a secure future for aerospace in Northern Ireland.”

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Strikes at Diageo Belfast suspended after improved pay offer

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Planned eight-day strike action at Diageo in Belfast, that would have seen shortages of Guinness Zero this Christmas, has been suspended following an improved pay offer from the employer. Around 90 workers were set to strike tomorrow (Friday 5th December) but workers will now vote on the new deal [ballot closing on Monday 8th December] .

Regional officer for the workforce Michael Keenan said, “Negotiations have resulted in an improved pay offer being made by Diageo and as an act of good will our reps voted to suspend the planned strike action to allow our members to consider and vote on it.”

The planned strike action followed a unanimous ballot rejection [100 per cent] by workers of a previous pay offer.

Diageo’s Belfast factory is the world’s biggest manufacturer of Guinness Zero – the UK’s leading non-alcoholic beverage. Planned strike action would have seen shortages of Guinness Zero this Christmas.

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Christmas Guinness drought as workers announce eight days of pay strikes

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Unite the union NI

Diageo workforce unanimously votes to reject inadequate pay offer and to take strike action

The UK is facing a Guinness zero drought this Christmas as workers at the company’s Belfast brewery announced eight days of strikes next month in a dispute over pay.

The workers who are members of Unite, will begin strike action on Friday 5 December and walkouts will continue until the early hours of Saturday 13 December.

The approximately 90 workers are demanding a substantial increase in pay to close the pay gap with Diageo employees at the company’s site in Runcorn, England.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world. It can fully afford to make workers a decent offer but has chosen to put profits before people.”

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