POTATO factory workers have threatened to rumble their employers over a pay dispute. Members of staff at Greenvale AP in Doddington say they are being sent home early without pay – even though they are contracted to work a 40 hour week. Activists organise

POTATO factory workers have threatened to rumble their employers over a pay dispute.

Members of staff at Greenvale AP in Doddington say they are being sent home early without pay - even though they are contracted to work a 40 hour week.

Activists organised a protest outside the factory gates but the company says it does not recognise a union and is unaware of the concerns.

But Unite members say the firm, based in Floods Ferry Road, has knocked back their attempts to make the peace and could be heading for an "escalated" dispute.

If directors refuse to back down Unite says it will blab about the row to the company's best customers, which include supermarket giant Tesco.

Union organiser Matt Dore-Weeks said they would pursue the company through "legal channels" if their protest failed to bring managers to the table.

However he said that a strike would be a "very last resort" and that the union hoped to resolve the problems before that stage.

He said: "We have tried to speak to the company about this issue but they have not wanted to engage with us.

"The demonstration is in order to make it crystal clear that workers are not going to put up with a violation of their rights."

He added that many companies "penny pinch" when possible and said: "They will do this if they can afford to get away with it.

"Companies will get away with what they can. They are trying to maximise their profit."

A spokeswoman for Greenvale AP said: "We do not recognise a Unite union but we are aware of them targeting the workforce.

"We are not aware of these issues at this time.