200 Cadbury staff on strike weeks before Easter

Two hundred workers for chocolate giant Cadbury have gone on strike – threatening production of some of the UK’s favourite treats including Dairy Milk, Twirl and Flake.

The firm has a base in Birmingham but the strikes will affect workers at sites elsewhere.

Unions vowed to keep picketing a factory run by the manufacturer over fears jobs would be outsourced.

The threat comes weeks ahead of East Sunday, which is on March 27.

The Cadbury factory in Bournville, Birmingham. Credit: ITV News Central

While the production of Dairy Milk, Twirl and Flake chocolate has been disrupted at the affected production site in Coolock, Ireland, Easter eggs themselves are produced in Bournville.

Siptu and Unite representatives were meeting Modelez Ireland on Friday to discuss their concerns after 17 positions at the Coolock factory were reassigned.

Production at Bournville has not been affected. Credit: PA

The scheduled talks will be chaired by mediators from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Unite regional coordinating officer Richie Browne warned the move to outsource 17 core roles in Coolock would herald a “move away from good permanent jobs to precarious work”.

Siptu sector organiser John Dunne said:

Cadbury said it is trying to resolve the dispute. Credit: ITV News Central

Cadbury in Coolock has been producing chocolate bars for five decades for the Irish, UK and other international markets.

A spokeswoman for Cadbury said: