Workers at the Jiffy packaging plant in Winsford, Cheshire, are celebrating today after securing a four per cent pay increase. Staff also maintained all existing terms and conditions that had been under threat.
Over 50 members of Unite, Britain's leading trade union, had taken 36 days of industrial action in their dispute with their employer.
Workers had originally been offered a one per cent pay increase or a three per cent increase with dramatic reductions in sickness benefits. Following strike action that crippled production at the plant workers won a substantially improved offer, of four per cent backdated to 1 March. They also maintained their sick pay at current levels and got Jiffy management to remove the degrading fob system in place that monitored workers' toilet breaks. Further assurances over redundancies and retraining have also been guaranteed.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This shows the power of Unite and the power of the union movement. We backed our members at Jiffy in their fight for better pay and to protect their terms and conditions and because they fought hard for what was rightfully theirs they won the dispute.
 
"They should be applauded for standing firm against this household name who tried so hard to short change them."
 Unite regional officer Gary Fairclough said: “This pay deal would not have been possible without the hardwork of our reps and the dedication of our members at Jiffy.
 
“The message from this dispute is clear if workers want a pay rise they should join Unite and ensure their colleagues join too.”