Tetley strike averted as workers accept new pay deal

Tetley workers who voted to strike earlier this month on Tuesday accepted a new pay deal, averting a potential shortage of the product.

Union leaders said the ‘predominantly women’ workforce at Tata Consumer Products Limited in Teesside has accepted a new offer of a 7 per cent pay rise backdated to 1 April 2023.

The factory is the only producer of Tetley tea for the UK and Canada.

Almost 200 members of GMB Union have voted for strike action on 3 August.

“After years of real terms pay cuts, these low-paid, predominantly women workers have stood together and demanded more – and they’ve got it,” Laura Maughan, GMB organiser, said.

“These workers should be rightly proud of themselves and Tata should be congratulated for finally listening to their workforce.”