18-07-2025
Workers at huge site 'set to go hungry' in row over 'poverty pay'
Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike in a move their union says will leave fellow workers at the huge site "famished".
Caterers employed by the London-based Compass Group are threatening to walk out later this month and again in August over what the union Unite describes as "poverty pay".
Unite claims that canteen workers receive only slightly more than the minimum wage.
According to the union, Compass is the world's largest catering provider and made more than £1.2bn in operating profits in the six months to March 2025.
Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike over what their union describes as 'poverty pay' (Image: Stephen Bath)
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "The Compass Group is a hugely rich company that is refusing these workers a fair pay rise.
"Unite will not let this happen - the Fawley canteen workers have their union's full support in taking strike action for as long as is necessary."
READ MORE: ExxonMobil Fawley to burn blue flares in the New Forest
Two strikes on July 25-28 and August 1-4 will involve more than 20 staff at three facilities.
Rebecca Johns-Lawrence, the union's regional officer, said: "Esso will not be happy that workers at Fawley will be famished.
"There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require the company putting forward an acceptable offer, which Fawley bosses should be pressuring Compass to do."
Canteen staff at Fawley refinery are set to strike over what their union describes as 'poverty pay' (Image: Stephen Bath)
The refinery occupies a 3,250-acre site and is the largest facility of its type in the UK.
It makes a wide range of everyday products using processes that provide employment for more than 2,500 staff and contractors.
A spokesperson for Eurest, which is part of Compass, said: "We are disappointed by the decision of our employees to ballot for industrial action.
"We have proposed a pay offer we believe is fair in light of the current economic backdrop. Our colleagues are all paid Real Living Wage or above and have access to a range of benefits. We remain open to resolving this issue swiftly.
'We have put in place alternative arrangements to ensure catering is still provided to the employees on site while industrial action is underway."
Esso is part of ExxonMobil, which said the proposed strikes were not in anyone's interest.
"We encourage employers and representatives to work together constructively to reach a resolution as quickly as possible. We have taken contingencies to ensure on-site personnel are not impacted."
