Jiffy Packaging workers in Winsford reach day 10 of strike

Staff at the Jiffy Packaging plant, in Road Four on the Winsford Industrial Estate, walked out on July 1.

The company offered its workers a 1.1 per cent pay rise, which they are unhappy with amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the real rate of inflation (RPI) standing at 4.3 per cent when the pay increase was due.

Jiffy’s offer was later upped to 2.9 per cent, on condition workers agree to a 75 per cent cut in sick pay, from eight weeks full pay and eight weeks half pay, to two weeks full and two weeks half.

The trade union, Unite, says this pay rise is actually a real-terms pay cut, with the general secretary, Sharon Graham, describing the offer as 'paltry'.

The workers' walk-out will continue until July 13, and in addition to the strike action, staff are refusing to work any overtime from July 1 until the dispute is resolved.

Jiffy scooped £6 million profits according to its last accounts (Image: West Cheshire Trades Union Council)

Unite members who work at the factory are in the process of establishing a workplace branch, which will allow them to receive donations to a strike fund.

Ray McHale, from the West Cheshire Trade Unions Council, said: “Things have clearly become quite acrimonious - a reflection of deteriorating conditions over time, which have seen several staff leave.

“The factory has about 80 workers. Some I spoke to had been there more than 30 years, but now face a management which has cracked down on break times, and monitors everyone with CCTV.

Workers have rejected a below-inflation pay offer (Image: West Cheshire Trades Union Council)

“Management have erected big temporary fencing at the plant and put on all-day security, at a cost of thousands of pounds."

Jiffy Packaging is synonymous with padded envelopes and other packaging materials.

Unite revealed the company made nearly £6 million in gross profits according to its last accounts, adding: "They can easily afford to make a decent pay offer to their employees."

Unite regional officer, Gary Fairclough, added: "Our members are rightly furious at this insult of a pay offer, coupled with terrible sick pay, the removal of break times, and a host of other conditions which paints Jiffy as an employer that simply doesn’t value its staff."

Jiffy was approached for comment, but nobody was available at the time.