Workers at Kelloholm's Browns Food Group are continuing their second week of strike action after a dispute over claims of poor pay and working conditions.

Around 180 Unite union members based at the Dumfriesshire food manufacturer started strike action on Monday, August 28 in a dispute over pay.

Workers believe the strike action could last up to seven weeks - and as these pictures show, they have been keeping the picket line protest outside the business going in rain or shine.

Cumnock Chronicle: triking workers outside the Kelloholm plant

At the start of the strike, one staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We've been trying to get better pay and working conditions for over a year.

"The company has quite a high turnover of staff because people now know what it's like to work there and people stay away from them now.

"All we want is to be paid fairly, because staff were cut during Covid, but they're still expecting the same level of production, which makes no sense.

Cumnock Chronicle: Striking workers outside the Kelloholm plant

"They've already tried the scare tactics by telling us that the company could move to England if issues aren't resolved.

"We'll see what happens, but we aren't holding our breaths".

Unite’s production, distribution and maintenance members rejected a pay offer from the company which equals the real Living Wage of £10.90 an hour.

An overtime ban is also in effect until September 18.

Unite the Union says that Browns Manufacturing Limited, which the company trades under, made a profit after tax of £5.2m in the year ending December 31, 2021.

Cumnock Chronicle: The Brown's plant in Kelloholm

The company is part of the wider Browns Food Group, which is owned and controlled by the Godfrey family.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s members at Browns have emphatically rejected a poverty pay offer. The Browns Food Group, which owns the Kelloholm factory, is cash rich.

"It can well afford to give its workers a far bigger slice of the tens of millions it has sitting in the bank. Unite will always support our members fighting back for decent jobs, pay and conditions.” 

A spokesperson for Browns Food Group said at the start of the dispute: "The management of Brown brothers has been committed to developing the site and workforce and expansion over the years has seen growth in all areas of the food supply chain, from hospitals  and schools to sandwich manufacturers and direct to supermarkets.

"The challenges that have faced the industry have been met over the years and we are proud of our workforce and factory and what we have achieved.

"2023/24 pay negotiation with the unite site representatives and regional organiser started early in the year with a significant request from the union for a 33 per cent increase on base wage from £9.75 to £13.00 per hour."