Bah humbug!

While consumers of the world famous Barbour jacket may be in the Christmas spirit, the manufacturer is anything but, as it threatened to ban its striking workers from the company’s Christmas party.

 
The workers, Unite members, based in Gateshead at J Barbour and Sons Ltd, began their first day of strike action yesterday (December 18) over forced changes to their contracts, which includes introducing a requirement to work until 23:00, as well as the reneging of the unsocial hours payment.

 
Striking workers argue that the changes to their contracts represent a bid to lower their terms and conditions to the status of temporary employees, without showing any consideration for employees with caring responsibilities.

 
The company’s behaviour is especially appalling considering Barbour’s mission statement, which supposedly aims to build a business honouring ‘family values’ and ‘effective working relationships’ based on ‘respect’ while supporting workers to work ‘collectively towards common goals.’

 
“The spiteful behaviour of Barbour to ban workers taking industrial action from their Christmas party sums the company’s attitude up,” said Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown.

 
“Staff have worked hard to make the Barbour brand a global success and feel betrayed by the attacks on terms and conditions which are designed to squeeze out yet more profit,” she added.

 
“They are actions that Scrooge would be proud of and show a total disregard for people with caring responsibilities. Barbour needs to enter the Christmas spirit and negotiate a fair deal for its workforce.”

 
The Unite members went on strike yesterday from 07am to 1pm. The six-day strike will continue on Friday (December 19), Monday (December 22) and Tuesday (December 23), as well as on Monday (January 5) and Tuesday (January 6).