Staff call off strike at Flahavan’s oat production plant in Waterford

Strike Averted at Flahavan’s

A strike at Flahavan’s, the leading oat producer behind well-known porridge, cereal, and biscuit brands, has been called off after the company agreed to change its approach to a proposed pay deal. Workers at the plant in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford had voted unanimously in favour of strike action following what they described as the company’s "unilateral attempt" to tie a new pay deal to a flexibility arrangement that it had "neither seen nor negotiated."

According to union leaders, the strike was called off after the company agreed to decouple the pay deal from the flexibility agreement. The development follows a ballot for industrial action that commenced on 12 August and closed on 21 August, after workers rejected management’s attempt to link the new pay agreement with the proposed flexibility arrangements.

Union and Management Reactions

Trade union Unite, which represents the overwhelming majority of workers at the plant, welcomed the decision. Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said the decision by the company to "decouple the proposed pay deal from an unagreed flexibility policy vindicates our members’ position." The union had engaged in five months of negotiations to achieve pay parity between bakery staff and mill workers, as reported by The Irish Times.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham celebrated the outcome, saying the result demonstrated the importance of workers standing together and being prepared to take industrial action. She stated, "Once again it's clear the best way for workers to defend their terms and conditions is to be organised in a strong union." The company previously said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the strike decision, but a spokeswoman said the company had "worked hard to provide a constructive way forward that supports our employees while ensuring the long-term success of the business." Flahavan’s said the union calling off strike action "represents a positive step in the process," and hopes the two parties can move to a "fair and sustainable" resolution.

Next Steps

About 100 Unite members will now vote on the proposed pay deal before the union negotiations turn to "all other matters." An all-staff ballot will then take place. Staff are understood to be willing to engage with the company on the flexibility agreement, but the union said it will need to consult staff before doing so.

The Flahavan’s plant at Kilmacthomas produces over half of all oats sold in Ireland, underpinning the significance of the plant to the wider market. The resolution of this dispute marks a constructive outcome for both the workforce and the company, with further negotiations on remaining issues, including flexibility arrangements, expected.