Workers at Jacob's Cream Crackers factory to go on 'permanent strike'

Production of Jacob’s Cream Crackers, Jaffa Cakes and Twiglets will decline dramatically after 750 workers out of 800 went on strike at owner Pladis’s factory in Aintree, near Liverpool.

Factory staff, who make 14,000 tons of Jacobs cream crackers every year, will walk out every single day until their employer agrees to negotiate. 

The GMB union said the pay rise of 4.25% which was offered feel far short of staffs initial demand for a 10% pay rise – in line with inflation.

Workers in the Aintree factory first took strike action in September but have now moved to a “permanent strike”.

The union said the strike is over not being given a pay rise in line with the rising cost of living and what they say is a “real-terms pay cut”.

Yesterday the company announced they were shifting production Jacobs Cream Crackers to Portugal.

Eamon O’Hearn, the GMB national officer, 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. But it’s falling on deaf ears. In fact, more than that, bosses are shifting an iconic British brand to Portugal to undermine their own workers.

“This kind of naked corporate greed in the run-up to Christmas is disgraceful.”

Workers across the country are participating in industrial action over pay and conditions as the cost of living continues to creep up.

Strike actions is being undertaken by university lecturers, Royal Mail postal workers, rail staff, airport staff, dock workers, and NHS staff in the coming months.