A potential shortage of Tetley tea bags has been averted after factory workers accepted a new pay deal.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that almost 200 GMB members at Tata Consumer Products, in Teesside – the only producer of Tetley tea for the UK and Canada – had voted for strike action. The GMB Union stated at the time that workers had rejected a pay offer described as a “real terms pay cut”.
However, the predominantly women workforce has now accepted a new offer of a 7% pay rise backdated to 1 April 2023.
Laura Maughan, GMB Organiser, commented: “After years of real terms pay cuts, these low-paid, predominantly women workers have stood together and demanded more – and they’ve got it. This pay rise will enable them to support their families and stop relying on food banks.”
She added: “These workers should be rightly proud of themselves and Tata should be congratulated for finally listening to their workforce. However, there is still a long way to go Tetley workers fight for pay justice.”
