Tetley workers in Teeside have successfully negotiated a new pay deal, preventing a feared tea shortage.
- Almost 200 GMB Union members initially rejected the company’s pay offer, voting for potential strike action.
- The workers, predominantly women, have now accepted a 7% pay increase, retroactive to April 1, 2023.
- This agreement is seen as a significant victory for the workers, who have faced years of real-term pay cuts.
- Elsewhere, workers at a Tesco depot are planning strikes over contract changes without salary increases.
A potential crisis in the UK tea supply has been averted, as workers at Tata Consumer Products in Teeside, the only producer of Tetley Tea in the region, have come to an agreement regarding their pay. This development has prevented a looming tea shortage, much to the relief of consumers.
Earlier, nearly 200 members of the GMB Union had expressed their dissatisfaction with the initial pay offer from the company, which led to a vote in favor of strike action. This strong response highlighted the workers’ refusal to continue experiencing significant pay inequalities.
The workforce, described as mostly low-paid women, stood firm in their demands. The new pay deal includes a 7% increase that has been backdated to April 1, 2023. This increment reflects a hard-won gain for these employees, aligning better with their economic needs and helping them support their families without relying on food banks.
GMB organiser Laura Maughan noted the workers’ resilience, acknowledging their stand as a proud moment and recognizing Tata’s eventual willingness to reconsider its stance. However, despite this progress, Maughan emphasized that more effort is needed to achieve comprehensive pay justice for Tetley workers.
In contrast, challenges remain in other sectors, such as with Tesco, where workers at one of its depots plan to initiate strikes. These strikes arise from imposed new contracts that do not come with a pay rise, with Unite the Union scheduling initial 24-hour strikes on September 1 and 7, to be followed by additional strikes later in the month.
The successful negotiation at Tetley offers a hopeful precedent for worker rights as other disputes loom.
