Barbour workers accept new offer, end strike

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jan 14, 2015

The Unite union has announced that the striking workers at heritage brand Barbour's Gateshead warehouse have gone back to work, after accepting a "significantly improved offer" following talks at Acas.

The new deal sees substantial increases in pay and day shift working for those with family and caring responsibilities, and was accepted by the majority of the workers one week into the four-week work stoppage.

Barbour, known for its wax jackets worn by both young urbanites and country dwellers, had previously seen four days of strike action in December.

Unite regional officer Fazia Huassain-Brown said: "A majority of members have accepted this improved offer which sees increases in pay and day shift working for those with family or caring responsibilities. This hard won outcome would not have been possible without the resolve of the workers who faced being sacked if they didn’t sign up to inferior contracts."

"They stood up in the face of an employer who sought to ride rough shod over their rights and won significant concessions. We trust that we can now move forward with the employer in a spirit of cooperation and ensure the Barbour brand continues to be a global success story."