The GMB Union has been in a pay dispute with Tata Consumer Products of Eaglescliffe, near Stockton-on-Tees, since 20 September. The factory makes Tetley teabags, and supplies 30% of the UK’s tea.
Why are they striking?
Almost 150 GMB members walked out for 24 hours, starting at 6.00am on 10 October, in a dispute over ‘poverty pay’. Tata says that it has offered the workers a pay rise of 4.4%, but the union counters that their members have seen a real-terms cut in pay over the past few years. The first one-day strike took place on 20 September 2024, the first ever strike at the factory, followed by two more on 23 September and 4 October.
On the picket line
It’s very loud and good-humoured down there, with plenty of cheers and whistles. Vehicles driving past are encouraged to honk their horns, and most respond.
A loud sound-system plays favourites, including ‘Part of the Union’ by the Strawbs. For those who can remember that far back, this track is a reminder of when a lot more people were. Some great banners add a sense of black humour.
Intimidation?
I spoke to GMB Organiser Paul Clark about accusations from Tata about intimidation on the picket line during last week’s strike. Paul explained that this was due to a complaint from Tata about the location of a picket line on the wrong side of Cleasby Way, next to the factory. Tata called the police, but when the police arrived, Paul explained that there had been a misunderstanding about the siting of the picket line, which was soon rectified. A hollow PR victory for Tata here then, giving the public an impression of ‘intimidating’ behaviour from the predominantly women strikers when there was no such threat.
Food bank
Paul confirmed that there’s a food bank at the factory, run by the office staff. This has been running for several years and is not related to the strike, but Paul confirms that production staff, including those on strike today, have had to make use of it. This doesn’t come as a surprise. Yesterday, the Trussell Trust confirmed that 9.3 million UK people are currently facing hunger and hardship.
Union reps
Many of the people on the line suggested that I should speak to the two workforce representatives, to gain an insight into life inside the factory. The reps are Michael and Andrea. Andrea confirmed what Paul had told me earlier – that Tata had anticipated the strike by building stock in a separate warehouse in an attempt to break it. The GMB has now notified Tata of 12 more days of industrial action, including three consecutive strike days at the end of October, so we’ll see how long stocks last. Andrea said that there are usually 350 production staff, and 250 of them are on strike today and there will be no production.
World Mental Health Day
The other rep, Michael, talked about keeping spirits up on World Mental Health Day. I asked him how things were in the factory on non-strike days, and he said that the atmosphere was terrible. The strikers are experiencing hostility from those not taking part in the strike. I was surprised by this lack of solidarity, but it shows the price that the strikers are willing to pay to get a decent pay deal. Something that all of their colleagues will benefit from, naturally.
Interference with collective bargaining
Tata insists to the local media that two “fair and reasonable” pay offers to the union have not been presented to the 150 striking workers. But Tata knows that you don’t conduct pay negotiations via the media – that’s what collective bargaining is for.
How to settle the dispute?
Tata is probably still taken aback by the first strike at their factory since it was founded in 1970, and their reaction seems to have been heavy-handed. But they are one of the wealthiest corporations in the world, and they can surely find the money to make a reasonable offer to end this dispute quickly.
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