Darlington-based printers have announced a further two weeks of strike action following a pay dispute. 

Unite has confirmed more than 90 workers at Cepac in Darlington will take part in a further two weeks of industrial action, now running until Monday (September 25).

The strike initially began on Monday (August 14) to protest a real-terms pay cut.

A Unite spokesperson said this action has been taken due to the company's "failure to engage in any meaningful negotiations.

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cepac’s actions are all about greed, not need.

"This is a company that can make a fair pay offer but is attempting to boost its profits by making its employees work longer and under worse conditions.”

They said the dispute is a result of Cepac only being prepared to offer an eight per cent pay increase, which is below the inflation rate (RPI) of nine per cent.

They added the offer is subject to the workers accepting "substantially worse conditions" which would include longer hours, lower overtime rates and a change in shift patterns.

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Cepac produces corrugated packaging, used by companies such as Greggs, Costa, Subway, Aldi, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.

Unite regional officer Pat McCourt said: “Consumers across the UK are becoming increasingly alarmed that they will struggle to purchase their favourite food and drink due to the growing packaging crisis.

"This dispute is exclusively of Cepac’s own making, the company pay offer along with the changes to terms and conditions would actually make our members worse off.”