NESTLE workers in York and throughout the UK are being balloted on industrial action in an escalating row over a 2010 pay freeze.

Members of the Unite, GMB and Usdaw unions are now taking part in a nationwide postal “straw poll” asking them to consider a further ballot to begin a process of industrial action.

The Press had reported that Nestlé recently rejected a claim for a 2.5 per cent increase – saying it would be irresponsible to raise wages in such tough times – but instead offered a higher factory bonus.

However, John Kirk, of the GMB and speaking on behalf of Unite, said the bonuses were discretionary and could be withdrawn at any time by Nestlé bosses.

He said: “This is a national ballot taking in all Nestlé sites. We submitted what we felt was a reasonable pay claim in the current economic climate.”

He said the current ballot came after workers in York had taken pay freezes in 2007 and 2008 and agreed to substantial pay cuts after recognising the company needed to “reorganise to make itself more profitable”.

He said Nestlé in York had now significantly increased productivity and profit levels in 2009.

“We have local bargaining and quite clearly we believe that the York site has the ability to pay,” he said.

“Other sites within the Nestlé division also had significant improvements in productivity which in-turn means greater profitability.

“It's on that basis that we are presenting what we believe is a reasonable pay settlement.”

The current ballot will close on April 23 with the joint unions promising the result as-soon-as-possible following that date.

Nestlé declined to comment on the situation and would say only that “the company will make every effort to continue the discussions through the formal channels.”