Barbour workers on strike, 5th January 2015, photo by Elaine Brunskill

Barbour workers on strike, 5th January 2015, photo by Elaine Brunskill   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Barbour workers strike against worse conditions

Elaine Brunskill

After a six day strike in the run up to Christmas, workers in Barbour’s Gateshead warehouse began another four weeks of strike action from 5th January.

Barbour strikers, December 2014, photo E Brunskill

Barbour strikers, December 2014, photo E Brunskill   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Barbour jackets, alongside being favourites of the hunting, shooting set, are worn by the likes of Kate Moss and Lily Allen.

The company, that prides itself on producing world renowned products, and reportedly made a profit of £18 million last year, now wants to turn the screws on its workforce.

Barbour is attempting to impose new shift conditions. One of the strikers commented: “They are expecting us to start at 6.30am, until 11pm, but this is a really isolated place”.

Barbour workers on strike, December 2014, photo Elaine Brunskill

Barbour workers on strike, December 2014, photo Elaine Brunskill   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Another striker went on to say that transport links to the industrial estate were poor and the new shift patterns would make it impossible for people who relied on public transport.

Many of the strikers have worked at Barbour in excess of 20 years. One woman commented: “Until recently they’ve been a good company, but recently I’ve been shocked”.


This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 5 January 2015 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.