New pay parity deal brings bakery operatives into line with mill workers

Unite win illustrates importance of collective organisation

Unite, which represents workers at Flahavan’s in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, said today (Sunday) that members have voted to accept a new pay deal which will be worth up to 21.5 per cent for some workers.

Following a long-running campaign by Unite, the deal finally ensures pay parity between mill and bakery operatives. As a result, bakery packers will receive a 13 per cent parity increase while bakery processors will receive a 21.5 per cent parity increase, both effective from 1 January 2026.

In addition, Unite has secured a general 3.5 per cent pay increase backdated to 1 January.

The deal will run until 30 June 2027.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This deal is down to the hard work of Unite members and reps. Once again it is clear that the best way for workers to improve their terms and conditions is to stand together in a strong trade union”.

In August, the threat of strike action at the iconic oat producers was only averted after the company agreed to decouple the pay deal from a flexibility policy which had not been agreed with the union.

Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said: “Unite has not only delivered a wage win but also an equality win.  Elimination of pay discrepancies has been a long-standing demand of our members and could only have been delivered through collective organisation.”