More than 750 workers at a Pladis-owned factory that makes Jacobs Cream Crackers are staging a full strike in response to a “real terms pay cut”.
Staff at the Aintree plant – who also make Jaffa Cakes, Twiglets, Club bars and Mini Cheddars – have been taking limited industrial action since September in their dispute over pay.
However, factory staff, who make 14,000 tons of Jacobs cream crackers every year, will now walk out every day until management agree to negotiate.
The 751 GMB union members at the Aintree site want a pay award in line with inflation. Workers say they were offered a pay increase of 4.25%, falling far short of their initial demand for a 10% pay rise.
The GMB union said workers had eased their demand to a rise of £1,750 each, amounting to an increase of about 9% for those on the lowest pay grade and less than 7% for more senior staff.
Pladis said it had offered an 8.9% pay increase over two years plus a one-off £500 cost of living payment.
In response to the industrial action, the company revealed that it is temporarily shifting some production to Portugal to ensure supplies in the run-up to Christmas.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB National Officer, said: “These workers are rightly angry – they put themselves on the line to keep the company going during the pandemic.
“Now they need some help to get them through the cost of living crisis. But it’s falling on deaf ears. In fact, more than that, bosses are shifting an iconic British brand to Portugal to undermine their own workers. This kind of naked corporate greed in the run up to Christmas is disgraceful.
“Jacob’s workers will now be on strike 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the company comes back to the negotiating table.”
A spokesperson for Pladis said: “We regret that the GMB has decided to take this course of action, despite all of the efforts we have made to reach an agreement with the union. However, we want to reiterate that our door remains open to the GMB for further discussions with their representatives.”
