A rumoured tea shortage has been averted as Tetley workers have accepted a new pay deal.

Almost 200 members of GMB Union at Tata Consumer Products in Teeside, the only producer of Tetley Tea for the UK, had voted for strike action as they rejected a pay deal from the company in July.

However, according to GMB, the “low-paid, predominantly women workers” have now agreed to receive a new offer of a 7% pay rise which will be backdated to 1 April 2023.

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GMB organiser, Laura Maughan, said: “After years of real terms pay cuts, these low-paid, predominantly women workers have stood together and demanded more – and they’ve got it.

“This pay rise will enable them to support their families and stop replying on food banks.  These workers should be rightly proud of themselves and Tata should be congratulated for finally listening to their workforce.

“However, there is still a long way to go [as] Tetley workers fight for pay justice.”

This comes as Tesco is to face strikes at one of its depots, as cleaning and catering staff have been put on new contracts without a pay increase.

The workers who are members of Unite the Union have announced two initial 24 hour strikes beginning on 1 and 7 September, followed by a three day strike beginning on 15 September and a further three day strike on 21 September.