Tetley tea workers settle pay dispute
Tetley tea workers settle pay dispute
Plus: Conservatives select new leader and where to see the fireworks in Teesside
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A labour dispute in the Tees Valley which threatened to cut off 30% of the country’s supply of tea ended this week, with trade unions hailing the success of collective action in the face of “poverty wages”.
Around 150 members of the GMB union who work at the Tetley’s tea factory in Eaglescliffe voted to strike in August after being offered a pay rise of 4.4%, down from the increase they received of 7% the previous year.
Strike action was averted last summer, although Tetley’s owner Tata Consumer Products were accused by union members at the time of “trying to bully workers rather than listen to their concerns”.
It was reported in The Sun fears of shortages in the wake of the strike’s announcement caused a surge in sales of Tetley’s products of 250%.
The Teesside workforce, which is mainly female, first walked out in September. Tata sought legal action against the striking workers, who it claimed were trespassing and entering the factory to “intimidate” co-workers.
A spokesman for Tata said at the time strike action must be “peaceful and lawful” with pickets “sited at the agreed locations away from Tata Consumer Products land and premises.
“Striking guidelines are communicated clearly and striking employees are aware that they are not permitted access to the premises which includes the car park, canteen and toilet facilities on strike days. Any breach of this is considered an act of trespass”.
The heated dispute came to an end this week with Tata offering workers a 10% pay rise over two years, which GMB says its members “overwhelmingly accepted.”
A spokesperson for Tata said: "We look forward to welcoming all our colleagues back into the business and working together for a productive future."
Paul Clarke, GMB Organiser added: "These workers have fought hard to get the pay rise they deserve.
"GMB is pleased the company got back round the table to reach a deal.
"This offer shows what happens when workers stick together to defend their terms and conditions.
"Now they can get back to making the UK's favourite brew again."
Due to a combination of half term and family emergencies, I was unable to go on the public tour of Teesworks I’d booked a ticket for this week.
Thankfully, Ray Casey at North East Bylines was able to go and has written up the 30km journey. Read it here.
Teesside stories you may have missed…
🔥 A Guisborough farm fire has resulted in the deaths of livestock
Conservative members have voted Kemi Badenoch the party’s new leader, as they hope to rebuild following July’s electoral disaster.
Ms Badenoch defeated Robert Jenrick in the final round of the contest by 53,806 votes to 41,388. Turnout of voting members was 72.8%.
During her campaign, Ms Badenoch said maternity pay was “excessive”. The group Pregnant Then Screwed, which campaigns for improved maternity and paternity rights for parents, found a quarter of women had gone without food while on maternity leave in order to feed their children.
A campaign flyer from the new Tory leader also said autistic people received “better treatment” and “economic privileges and protections”, prompting the National Autistic Society to speak out, describing her comments as “not only offensive to autistic people but detached from reality and demonstrat[ing] a fundamental lack of understanding of autism and disability.”
Her election as leader suggests support from party members for Badenoch’s general themes, which largely centre on lines of so-called “culture wars”.
While Robert Jenrick’s campaign laid out detailed policies, Badenoch’s avoided it, dealing only in vibes.
July’s election saw the Tories lose 251 seats in the House of Commons, as Labour and the Lib Dems saw huge increases in seats after Reform took Conservative votes across the country.
Only 22 of the party’s 121 remaining MPs supported Kemi Badenoch in the first round of voting in the leadership contest.
Teesside’s only remaining Tory MP, Matt Vickers, supported Jenrick for leader, while his former colleague Sir Simon Clarke was full-throated in his support of Badenoch.
“I am in no doubt we have elected a remarkable person who will over time encourage millions of people to vote Conservative again, and who will build a brighter future for our country,” he wrote on X following Ms Badenoch’s victory.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen did not endorse any candidate, although he was pictured by the media having a highly-choreographed coffee with Tom Tugendhat at the Tory conference in September.
Former Darlington councillor Rachel Mills died this week.
The Conservative represented the Brinkburn and Faverdale ward between 2015 and May 2023, when she stood down.
A mother of three, she was also a policy advisor to Mayor Ben Houchen, who hailed her as “kind, thoughtful, liked and respected by everyone who knew her.”
"She lived a life committed to public service and she leaves us having made a positive difference to our community. We all miss her immensely,” he said.
🎆Looking for Fireworks?🎆
Here’s a selection of upcoming fireworks events this week for Bonfire Night…
TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER
🎇 Hartlepool Rugby Club
🎇 Stockton Fireworks
The Grangefield Ground, Grangefield Road
🎇 Middlesbrough Rugby Club
🎇 Acklam Rugby Club
FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER
🎇 Hartlepool Fireworks and Music Spectacular
Seaton Carew Promenade
SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER
🎇 Middleton St George Cricket & Social Club, Saturday 9 November
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Thanks for reading
Leigh