A STRIKE at a pallet supplier in Trafford Park is now the longest in a union's 15-year history.

Workers at CHEP UK, who are represented by Unite, have been on on the picket line for almost 20 weeks due to their dissatisfaction with their salaries in light of the cost of living crisis.

Around two months ago, a rally attended by supporters from several other unions was held outside the pallet supplier on the same day as pay talks started, but these pay talks broke down.

A month later, Unite announced additional action in the form of protests outside CHEP UK's customers, including DHL, Heineken, Heinz, Procter and Gamble, Two Sisters and Unilever.

At the time, the union's general secretary Sharon Graham said: "CHEP UK made tens of millions in profit last year and could easily settle this dispute. Instead, it's failing its workforce in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

"If CHEP UK is unwilling to resolve this dispute by presenting a realistic and acceptable pay offer, we will continue to step up the pressure on the company to do so."

Messenger Newspapers: CHEP UK in Trafford Park.CHEP UK in Trafford Park.

As a deadlock over salaries continues, Unite and other supporters are seeking alternative ways to pile pressure on the pallet supplier.

On Wednesday, there is a march from Media City Metrolink, across the Media City Footbridge and down to CHEP UK's base on Village Way.

An event on social media read: "The strike is now the longest strike in Unite's history as these brave workers fight for better pay in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

"So bring banners, flags, family and friends to show how much we support their fight."

According to Unite, the pallet supplier made £70.5 million in profit last year. Its estimate of the cost of the workers' demands is only in the tens of thousands.

The workers' latest vote on whether to continue their strikes into the spring came back with almost 95 per cent of them in support.