Jacob’s Cream Crackers and Twiglets are among the snacks said to be under threat of shortage as hundreds of factory workers are currently staging strike action.
GMB Union says that more than 750 workers at the Jacob’s Cream Crackers factory near Liverpool – which, of course, makes Jacob’s Cream Crackers, as well as Twiglets, Club bars, and a handful of other snack foods popular around the festive season – yesterday began a what is being called a “permanent strike” over anger at a real terms pay cut.
Staff at the Aintree plant have been taking limited industrial action since September in their pursuit of a pay award that “meets their claim for cost of living“, GMB Union explained.
But, as of yesterday, staff will walk out every single day until their boss agrees to negotiate.
The union said that the company also announced yesterday that it was “shifting production” of Jacob’s Cream Crackers to Portugal in what is a bid to “undermine the strike”.
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“These workers are rightly angry,” said Eamon O’Hearn – National Officer at GMB Union.
“They put themselves on the line to keep the company going during the pandemic, and now they need some help to get them through the cost of living crisis – but it’s falling on deaf ears, and in fact, more than that, bosses are shifting an iconic British brand to Portugal to undermine their own workers.
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“This kind of naked corporate greed in the run up to Christmas is disgraceful.
“Jacob’s workers will now be on strike 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the company comes back to the negotiating table.”
A spokesperson for pladis UK&I said in response to the strike action: “As has been widely documented, the cost of doing business has increased significantly in every aspect of our operations, from rising energy costs to a wide range of pressures more broadly in our supply chain, however, we greatly value our workforce, many of whom helped to keep us going throughout the pandemic, which is why, despite these pressures, we have offered a pay rise at almost 9% over two years, in addition to an immediate £500 payment to help with the increased cost of living.
“We therefore regret that the GMB has decided to take this course of action, despite our efforts to reach an agreement with them.
“We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that our door remains open for further discussions with the union’s representatives.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Gavin and Stacey will return with a 2024 Christmas special for its final episode
Danny Jones
After some pretty big rumblings earlier this year, it’s finally been confirmed that Gavin and Stacey will be returning for a Christmas special this year and what will be its last-ever episode.
The beloved British comedy last aired back in 2019 with their previous Christmas special and fans of the show have been crying out for more ever since.
Well, it turns out they’ll be getting just one more go around the block as co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones revealed that they have now finished writing their third and final Xmas special which will tie a festive bow on the trio of series which started all the way back in 2007.
Sharing a picture of the script on social media, the pair wrote: “Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James”.
However, what was actually going on was a bit of a red herring as she carefully chose to talk down any notions of another series but didn’t categorically dismiss the potential Christmas special.
In fact, she actually went on to add: “All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James [Corden] and I would happily announce it, we would.”
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Well played, Nessa.
As for details surrounding the final chapter in the Gavin and Stacey story, we have very few details at this stage but fans of the iconic show will already be wondering how they might pick up from where certain threads left off.
Production companies Baby Cow, Corden’s Fulwell 73 and Jones’ Tidy Productions are all behind the special and, given the momentous occasion, it will likely have a primetime slot on the TV guide when it finally rolls around this holiday season.
So get your remotes, baubles and bhunas at the ready because Gavin and Stacey is coming back for one last time and it’s sure to be a TV event that people all across the UK will remember for years to come.
Featured Images — BBC/James Corden (via Instagram)
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Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.