STRIKE BALLOT: Unite announced yesterday that its members at Oscar Mayer in Wrexham are voting on a call for industrial action.

The ballot has been sparked by the company’s decision to revise contracts, failure to consult, misuse of performance management processes and failure to recognise Unite for collective bargaining, the union said.

Unite called on the company to return to the negotiating table and resolve the dispute before it escalates. The company was asked to comment.

ROYAL PROFITS: Plaid Cymru MP Llinos Medi renewed calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales yesterday after the company announced a doubling of profits to a record £1.1 billion.

The increase was fuelled by the sale of seabed options and leases for offshore wind projects.

Ms Medi said: “There was no justification for the profits of renewable energy projects being funnelled out of poor coastal communities in Wales and used to renovate Buckingham Palace.”

BENEFIT ADVICE: Funding of £36 million over three years for the Single Advice Fund, announced by the Welsh government today, will help people obtain guidance on coping with the cost-of-living crisis.

The advice fund is a free service that makes benefit entitlement checks, which helped people receive over £47.5m last year. 

Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said: “We’re doing everything we can to put money back into people’s pockets.”

AGRICULTURE: The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) launched an initiative yesterday at the Royal Welsh livestock show to cut dog attacks. 

Union representatives in areas with repeated offences will be sent canine DNA collection kits.

The union hopes that the DNA trial will yield evidence that leads to prosecution. Vice-president Anwen Hughes said: “It is difficult to unsee the horror left behind after dogs have attacked and disfigured sheep in a field.”