LONDON — Over 130 staff at the warehouse of British outerwear firm Barbour have launched strike action over planned changes to their working hours.
According to a statement posted on the Web site of U.K. labor union Unite earlier this month, strike action began Dec. 17. Further strikes were called for Dec. 19, 22 and 30, with action also planned for Jan. 5 and 6.
The union said that the workers are striking over “forced changes to their contracts,” which includes a requirement to work until 11 p.m. and the removal of an unsocial hours payment.
Fazia Hussain-Brown, Unite’s regional officer, said: “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.”
While no-one was available to comment at Barbour’s head office in South Shields, northern England, on Wednesday, the BBC had reported earlier in December that Barbour said it was offering staff “a substantial pay increase” to compensate for the change in shift patterns.