Tetley, known as a beloved tea brand across the country, is steeling itself for further upheaval amid an escalating pay dispute.

The GMB Union has set 12 additional strike dates which will have nearly 150 employees ceasing work due to what they term as "poverty pay", as reported by City AM.

These industrial action dates are slated to take place throughout the next two months, with confirmation of specific days anticipated shortly.

GMB representative Paul Clark commented: "These hard-working, loyal and skilled, predominantly women workers have been backed into a corner by poverty pay and bullying bosses."

"They're fighting back in the only way they can."

"Tetley Tea workers feel saddened and hurt by the way their employer has treated them."

"But refuse to back down and will continue to strike until management listens to their concerns."

These developments come on the heels of last month's decision by GMB members to engage in industrial action, resulting in strikes on Friday, 20 September, and Monday, 23 September.

This series of events follows July 2023's warnings from Tetley Tea's workforce regarding potential strike actions.

Such action would have involved 150 employees walking out starting 3 August.

Nevertheless, within weeks, GMB members agreed on a revised pay proposition.

The 200-odd workforce gave the nod to a 7% pay increase, retroactively applied from 1 April, 2023, marking a substantial improvement over the initially declined offer of a 4.25% rise.

However, this was significantly below the 12 per cent that Tata, the owner of Tetley, had previously indicated to City AM that the union was aiming for.

Earlier this month, Tata Consumer Products, the manufacturer of Tetley Tea, initiated legal proceedings against the GMB Union in the English High Court.

The specifics of the claim are not yet disclosed, with the case categorised as miscellaneous.

City AM has learned that the company is allegedly suing over supposed trespassing by striking workers.