Staff at the Aintree Jacob’s cream crackers factory are returning to work after staging an all-out strike over pay.
A deal has been struck between union bosses and Jacob’s owner Pladis this week, when many of the company’s cream crackers products are showing as currently out of stock in UK retailers.
More than 750 workers at the factory, which also makes products including Twiglets and Club bars, walked out last month following weeks of limited industrial action.
GMB union bosses have heralded the agreement as a significant pay deal, with every worker receiving a 6.5% rise backdated to January, a £500 bonus and a further £250 bonus in January.
“These workers have stuck together – and secured a decent pay offer through their commitment,” said GMB organiser Lisa Ryan. “Every penny earned here is down to these workers. All they wanted was their fair share.”
Pladis said it was pleased to have reached an agreement.
“This is a positive step forward as we can now come back together as a team to continue baking the great British products that our consumers know and love,” said a statement for the company.
Pladis had temporarily shifted some of its Jacob’s cream crackers production to a third-party supplier in Portugal. However, stock from the overseas factory has not yet reached the UK and many Jacob’s crackers SKUs were this week out of stock in UK retailers.
“Stocks of Jacob’s cream crackers have been challenged by recent strike action at our Jacob’s bakery,” said a Pladis spokesperson.
“While negotiating with the GMB union, we activated a temporary contingency solution with stocks expected to flow through from next week. “
Pladis, which operates 25 factories in 11 countries, also produces brands including McVitie’s, Ülker and Carr’s.
In September, Pladis’s latest accounts filed with Companies House showed the business’s revenue fell 7% to £2bn in 2021. Pladis attributed the 7% drop in revenue mainly to the translation of the results from Ülker, the Turkish arm of the group, into sterling.
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