Weather jacket firm in strike storm

The world’s most famous all weather waxed jacket makers, J Barbour and Son Ltd, will now have the fabric of their industrial relations policy tested as Unite members go on strike from today (January 5) until the end of the month.

Barbour jackets at renowned retailers such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and John Lewis could well be in short supply.

Unite members at the posh coat company are taking action over forced changes to their contracts. These include the removal of the unsocial hours payment and the introduction of a requirement to work until 11 pm. Not ideal for a happy family life.

The Gateshead company, which prides itself on ‘family values’, was accused by Unite of being ‘anti-family’ with its sign or be sacked ultimatum.

Workers on less than the living wage, many with family and caring responsibilities, face being sacked if they don’t sign up to the new contracts by January 30.

“Barbour’s sign or be sacked ultimatum is bullying and anti-family,” said Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown.

“Many of the workers struggling to get by on less than the living wage are the sole breadwinner and have family or caring responsibilities. For a company that prides itself on ‘family values’ to seek to railroad through cuts and unsocial changes to their contracts is hypocrisy of the highest order,” she said.

The four week strike follows a six day stoppage earlier in December.

“The company should not underestimate the resolve of the workforce nor the impact that four weeks of strike action will have on supplies.

“Barbour management needs to live up to the company’s ‘family friendly’ values and negotiate a fair deal for its workforce,” added Fazia.