Fresh disruption could be on the cards for the glass manufacturing industry as Unite members at Encirc’s site in Cheshire plan to take action over proposed redundancies.
Potential shortages of major brand wine, beer and spirits brands appear to be looming, as over 100 workers at the glass manufacturing and logistics firm are balloting for strike action, which could begin in late March.
A number of different job roles appear to be impacted by the changes. According to Unite members, this includes maintenance staff and those who produce the glass containers and bottles for Encirc’s filling hall.
The disruption at Encirc, which produces around three billion glass bottles and containers annually for global brands, is likely to re-ignite concerns from the BWS industry, which was hit by a ‘perfect storm’ of glass shortages and price hikes as a result of Brexit and then Covid.
Back in 2022, Julie Dunn, operations director at Blantyre-based Dunns Food and Drinks, said a number of global suppliers were dealing with prolonged shortages, with prices jumping “by 80% in the last twelve months due to rising energy costs”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is wrong that a successful company such as Encirc is choosing to put profits over people and is seeking to cut our hardworking members’ jobs.
“Unite will fight these redundancy plans every step of the way and our members at Encirc have our full support throughout this dispute.”
Recently, Encirc’s parent company Vidrala reported strong full-year results, with net profit for 2025 exceeding £192m.
Encirc, however, adamantly denies that there will be any wine or beer shortages in the UK.
“The matter in question commenced in the early summer of last year when we began a restructuring programme across Encirc’s three UK sites. This process has been carried out in full consultation with the trade union and our people.
“We have placed the health and wellbeing of our people at the forefront of our considerations. The majority of those impacted have now left the business and the process is almost at an end.
“Glass production in the UK has seen a downturn over the last 18 months, with cost-of-living impacts, high energy costs and government policies in the UK, such as the new packaging tax (Extended Producer Responsibility), impacting the industry.
“Now that most of the changes have been implemented, Encirc is well positioned to attract future investment to the UK and to continue operating as a strong, successful business, supplying billions of bottles and jars to food and drinks brands.
“We have full contingency plans in place and have no concerns over shortages for any of our products. We, of course, remain open to dialogue with the trade union,” a spokesperson said.
Encirc is a major manufacturer and filler of glass bottles for a wide variety of high-profile alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands, including Jameson, Baileys, Budweiser and Coors as well as supermarket branded wine.
The ballot closes on 12 March. While Encirc has some stock in its warehouse, industrial action would have a significant impact on the supply of bottles or containers from the Elton site, Unite said.
