Tetley Tea is owned by Tata Consumer Products, which is under the multimillion Indian-owned Tata Group. Tata offered the workers of the Eaglescliffe Tetley Tea warehouse a 4.4% pay rise, a cut from the 7% which workers received in 2023. The workers subsequently walked out, stating that the pay rise was not inline with the National Minimum Wage with wages rising 9.8% to meet inflation and keep up with the current cost of living crisis.
"Backed into a corner by poverty pay and bullying bosses"
Paul Clark, the GMB Organiser, gave a statement highlighting the Tetley Tea site having predominately female workers who, ‘have been backed into a corner by poverty pay and bullying bosses.’. Just Drinks reported of a previous plan to strike in 2023 due to a pay cut by the Tata Group against Tetley, however it never materialised, presenting how detrimental this years cuts have become for the workers.
The walkout has been backed by the Labour Party, acknowledging the confidence of the workers to stand up to a ‘big employer like Tata’, and encourages support for the peaceful strike.
In a statement to Just Drinks, a Tata spokesperson has responded, stating they are ‘not immune to difficult economic circumstances facing families and business, but believe the pay offer has been fair.’ Despite the the strike being peaceful on the picket line, the strikers have been met with police and further being sued by the multi-million dollar company for trespassing, stated by the Labour Party.
With it now being over a month since the walkout there has been no conclusive action, with the workers refusing to back down until their concerns are heard. If the multi-million dollar company does not meet an agreement with the Tetley workers, the UK could be facing a Tetley Tea shortage in the coming months.
