Jiffy Packaging workers begin second strike in pay dispute

Employees at the Jiffy packaging plant in Road Four have staged further industrial action following on from last month's two-week walkout.

Workers began the strike yesterday (August 5) and will not return to work until August 17 in their ongoing row over pay.

Staff at the plant were initially offered what has been described as a 'pathetic' 1.5 per cent pay rise, which they say is a real-terms pay cut given the cost-of-living crisis and the real rate of inflation standing at 4.3 per cent.

Union Unite’s members are demanding an eight per cent pay increase backdated to April 1, 2024.

Additionally, workers are furious they only receive eight weeks of sick pay and want to see an increase to 12 weeks alongside the reinstatement of breaks during the working day and changes to bank holiday working practices.

Another strike is taking place in August (Image: West Cheshire Trades Union Council)

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This is a pathetic pay offer from a packaging company that is making huge profits on the backs of its workforce yet refusing to pay them a decent wage.

"Jiffy is a household name and yet it is willing to trash its reputation by treating our members and the communities in Cheshire with such disrespect.

"Unite will be backing our members every step of the way in this dispute."

During the first strike in July, Jiffy upped its offer 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.

Striking Jiffy Packaging workers in Winsford (Image: West Cheshire Trades Union Council)

But this offer was rejected and, with no subsequent offers, the workers are ramping up their industrial action campaign.

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.

In addition to the strike action taking place staff have been refusing to work any overtime since July 1 until the dispute is resolved.

Unite regional officer Gary Fairclough said: “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 condition that paints Jiffy as an employer that simply doesn’t value its staff or the community in which it's based.

"It will see the anger of our members first hand on the picket line outside its factory this summer."

Jiffy were unavailable for comment.