HUNDREDS of York KitKat workers are set for a massive basic pay increase as they move into working regular weekend shifts for the first time.

The change in pay and shift patterns comes in order to meet booming demand for the snack bar.

Nestle Rowntree is planning to switch the KitKat No 4 and 5 plants to the Continental shift system, under which production will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Union leaders have revealed that under the deal, the 400 workers will lose overtime for working at weekends and also work an extra three hours on the basic week. But they will also enjoy a basic pay increase of £7,000 to £8,000.

The GMB union also claims that the changes will help maintain long-term job security at the factory.

Nestle says it believes workers will find the new arrangements attractive, and claims the need to meet the growing demand for KitKat is good news for employment and the future of the York site.

But one person who contacted the Evening Press claimed that workers were shocked and disgruntled at what were felt to be "family unfriendly" proposals.

The person, who did not wish to be identified for fear of reprimand for speaking out, claimed: "They remove the element of choice, when deciding whether or not to work overtime at weekends or spend time with the family.

"There is a very disgruntled workforce at the moment in many areas of the site and a very uncertain future. We are working with the constant threat of one closure after another and it is every man for himself."

He claimed the GMB had "sold us down the river on the pretence of securing jobs".

John Kirk, regional organiser with the GMB, said that, in recent times, people had been working from Monday to Friday and then working extra shifts on Saturday and Sunday to earn overtime.

In some cases, employees were working 60 to 70 hour weeks, which had health and safety implications because of lack of rest, as well as sometimes contravening European working time directives.

The union was also concerned that the continuing overtime payments would make the Nestle Rowntree plant non-competitive compared to other Nestle factories abroad, and that jobs could be lost as a result. "We want long-term job security at Nestle."

He said similar shift changes had just started on the Aero plant. Workers there had had the opportunity to move to other parts of the factory working the traditional Monday-Friday week, but he was not aware of any deciding to do so.

"These are initial proposals and we will enter negotiations with the company next week."

A Nestle spokesman said KitKat business had grown significantly recently months and the new shift patterns would satisfy this higher demand.

"This pattern has already been successfully introduced in another part of the factory."We are constantly reviewing the way in which we can best operate the factory. Changing shift patterns will continue to be one of many options for us to consider in the future."

Updated: 08:18 Friday, August 24, 2001