As workers at the Jacob’s factory in Liverpool enter their third week of an all-out strike one woman on the picket line is hurt following a collision with a car. Tony McDonough reports
A woman on the picket line outside the Jacob’s cracker and biscuit factory in Liverpool was hurt after being in collision with a vehicle entering the plant.
This latest incident comes as more than 750 workers at the site in Aintree enter their third week of an all-out strike in a dispute over pay. Jacob’s owner Pladis is offering a 3.75% pay rise while the GMB union is seeking 8.5%.
Jacob’s makes Cream Crackers, Club biscuits, Twiglets, Jaffa Cakes cake bars, Mini Cheddars and Cracker Crisps at the factory. On September 26 staff began action that stopped short of an overall walkout.
However, this failed to shift the management stance and on November 14 the workers started an indefinite walkout. Around the same time Pladis shifted production of Cream Crackers to Portugal.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said at that time: “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.”
Last week, at the invitation of the union, the conciliation service ACAS went into the factory to meet with bosses and union leaders. However, despite talks lasting eight hours, there was no end to the deadlock.
Speaking to LBN on Monday, GMB official Lisa Ryan, said: “We approached ACAS and they had a meeting with us and the company but we did not reach a resolution.
“There has been talks and we are still prepared to reach out to the company. We are still very far apart but that does not mean a deal cannot be done.”
Pladis has persuaded some workers and managers to defy the picket line and continue going into work, a move that has increased the bitterness between the two sides.
On Sunday evening LBN understands a driver attempted to enter the factory gates and a woman who was on the picket line was in collision with the vehicle.
In a statement Merseyside Police said: “At around 6.30pm on Sunday, November 27, officers were called to a report of a collision involving a silver Volvo and a woman outside a factory on Long Lane in Aintree.
“The woman suffered a minor injury to her leg but declined hospital treatment. The man remained at the scene and assisted with police enquiries.”
In a statement Pladis said: “We are aware of an incident that took place on the picket line last night. The safety and wellbeing of all on site is our top priority and we have assisted the police with their enquiries.
“We met with the GMB, through the ACAS process, last Wednesday. Despite a day of constructive discussions, we were unable to reach agreement. We remain committed to engaging constructively and our door remains open for further conversation as we seek a resolution.”