After 11 weeks of strike action, hundreds of workers at a the Jacob's cracker and biscuit factory in Merseyside have accepted a new pay deal.
More than 750 workers at the Aintree factory have been involved in industrial action since late September as they fought for a fairer pay deal. This later turned into an all out strike, with large picket lines held outside the factory every day over the past month.
The Jacob's factory on Long Lane produces millions of cream crackers each year - with more than half a billion individual crackers sold each year. The site has been operating in Aintree for over 100 years and it was the first Jacob's factory to be built in England.
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News of a new pay deal put forward by Jacob's owner Pladis was first reported by Liverpool Business News earlier this week. The offer of a 6.5% rise and a one-off payment of £500 this year plus an additional 3% and £250 payment next year was voted through by workers who have now returned to work.
The deal represents a major improvement on the lower than 4% offer that prompted Jacob's workers to head out on strike earlier this year.
Lisa Ryan, GMB Organiser, said: “These workers have stuck together – and secured a decent pay offer through their commitment.
“They needed something to help them during the cost of living crisis. We’re glad the company have finally listened to their hard pressed staff.
“Every penny earned here is down to these workers. All they wanted was their fair share.”
The ECHO previously spoke to striking workers on the picket line. Eamon O’Hearn, national officer of the GMB union, previously 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."
News of the new pay deal was welcomed by Liverpool independent councillor Alan Gibbons who has regularly joined the Jacob's workers on the picket line.
He said: "The Jacob's workers have agreed a new pay deal and returned to work. The strike was a great show of solidarity and I was proud to join them on a regular basis."
A pladis UK&I spokesperson said: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the GMB and its members at our Aintree bakery.
"This is a positive step forward as we can continue delivering for our customers and baking the great British products that our consumers know and love.”
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