Workers at British Sugar, the UK sugar arm of Associated British Foods, will vote next week on whether to strike over pay.

Staff at four British Sugar sites will vote next Wednesday (21 September) on possible industrial action after rejecting an offer of a 3.5% pay increase, reported just-food.

The Unite union said on Wednesday that workers wanted a pay deal equal to the Retail Price Index measure of inflation, which is currently running at 5.2%. Staff also want a 0.5% supplement for 12 months from this April.

Unite regional officer Mick Doherty said: "Our members are being hit very hard by the soaring cost of living. British Sugar is a very profitable company, and despite its complaints that the sugar beet crop was hit by last winter's bad weather, it is well able to afford a decent pay rise."