Wine drinkers may face supermarket shortages this summer after workers at the UK’s largest wine bottling plant voted to strike through compensation and condition disputes.
Uniente confirmed that the accompanying plant in Bristol is bottled at nearly 300 million liters of wine per year and offers all major UK supermarkets, from Thursday to July 5, Union Unite confirmed that it will see industrial action. The site handles about 40% of British wine bottles, including 18 products from the top 20 wine brands sold in the UK, such as celebrity-backed record labels from Hardys, Villa Maria, McGuigan and Graham Norton and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The strike will involve 200 workers, and the joint organization organizes interlaced strikes in different parts of the business to maximize the damage. Although the direct shortage is due to inventory and industry leading time, insiders warn that wine containers arriving at UK ports may start backing up if the dispute extends, supply disruptions are expected later in the summer.
“There is no doubt that this action will be on the supermarket shelves. While the shortage may frustrate customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, this situation is entirely around.”
At the heart of the dispute is the accompanying 3.2% salary increase price increase owned by Spanish parent Vidrala, and a proposal to link future wage increases to inflation and remove collective bargaining rights – the union said the company will allow the company to implement terms without negotiation.
Unite’s secretary-general Sharon Graham described the company’s position as a company’s greed rather than a financial necessity.
“The side-held meanness towards workers is greedy and unwanted,” she said. “We will not stand by and allow hard victory around our members.
The accompanying plants play a crucial role in the UK wine supply chain, especially for New World wines, which are imported in large shipping containers and bottled locally to reduce costs and carbon emissions. The company’s Bristol facility is considered one of the most sustainable plants in the world, with zero waste operation and powered by 100% renewable electricity.
Oncirc said in a statement that it was “incredible disappointment” with the strike and defended its salary, noting that the current proposal means wages have risen by more than 16% in less than two years at the Bristol ruins.
“We are not only working to increase our salary and conditions, but we are working to create a real workplace,” the company said. “We are still honestly talking to the league and do our best to mitigate any impact on the supply.”
Industry insiders say rival bottling facilities such as Kingsland and Greencroft may be able to increase production to relieve stress, but it is unclear whether they can fill potential gaps if the strike is extended.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association and several major supermarkets have been contacted for comment. Currently, retailers and consumers are watching closely – there may be risks of summer wine shelves being likely to dry.
