Business

Unite and Scottish Print Employers Federation have agreed on a pay deal that according to the union will 'help shore up a packaging sector battered by closures and a shrinking customer base'.

Unite voted by three to one to accept the 3.37% increase on the basic rate for its members in Scotland. The deal starts on 1 July.

Around 30 print and packaging firms are covered by the national agreement and Unite represents about 2,000 members, said Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke.

"We are concerned about packaging in Scotland, which has suffered closures, while traditional customers for things like whiskey packaging have diminished," he said.

"Packaging and print work along with staff have left Scotland and moved to all parts of the EU, and we want to see what we can do to boost the industry."

Burke added: "We have proposed Unite sit down with the federation and its member companies to discuss how best we can address the issues including how we can seek joint help or assistance from the Scottish and UK governments."