Wigton, England—February 17, 2026, 07:47 GMT.
- More than 100 Futamura employees are now set to vote on strike action, GMB said, after turning down a 1.2% pay rise.
- The union reports that 94% of voting members rejected the proposal, pushing instead for a 3.8% increase.
- Futamura plans to continue discussions, with Acas still in the mix.
Futamura workers in Wigton, northern England, will soon decide whether to strike, according to the GMB union, after turning down a 1.2% pay bump. Out of those who voted, 94% rejected the deal, with the union now pushing for a 3.8% raise for over 100 members at the cellulose film packaging facility. Futamura responded that talks will keep going “in good faith”. (cumbriacrack.com)
The standoff emerges with UK manufacturing wage negotiations still stuck—staff pushing for pay increases to match inflation, employers citing sluggish demand and cost pressure. Britain’s consumer price inflation (CPI) clocked in at 3.4% in December, official figures show. (Office for National Statistics)
Michael Hall, GMB’s regional organiser, blasted the offer as “nothing short of an insult,” according to union comments. (gmb.org.uk)
UK law requires unions to hold a formal ballot before launching strikes or other “industrial action.” There’s a legal checklist to be met for any action to count as official. Sometimes, the public agency Acas steps in, working with both employers and unions to find a solution before things heat up. (Acas)
Futamura produces cellulose film for packaging, with operations in the UK, US, and Japan, its website shows. (Futamura)
The dispute lands just as UK labour market numbers soften. Wage growth is coming off the boil and unemployment is ticking up, according to figures Reuters highlighted this day. (Reuters)
Pay rows aren’t new for the packaging sector. In 2022, DS Smith staff faced a similar showdown: GMB reported a strike vote as workers pressed for better pay. (Reuters)
A strike at Futamura isn’t set in stone yet. The ballot might not pass, and with Acas stepping in, talks could still yield a new offer before anyone walks out.
The key issue right now: will workers support a strike, and how fast can management and unions bridge that 1.2% to 3.8% pay gap? Wigton isn’t a heavyweight nationally, but disruptions at the specialist packaging plant have a history of sending trouble through supply chains.
Futamura said it still sees ongoing talks as the way forward in the dispute. GMB, for its part, maintains its members are not prepared to accept another real-terms pay cut.
