WSP Textiles in Gloucestershire, produce a few of the most well-known sporting fabric on the planet, Strachan fabric for baize and Playne’s woven felt for tennis balls.
Sporting occasions like Wimbledon and the World Snooker Championships might be affected after strikes had been introduced at a 250 year-old UK agency that makes baize for snooker tables – and tennis ball felt. WSP Textiles, which has factories in each Stroud and Dursley, in Gloucestershire, produce a few of the most well-known sporting fabric on the planet – Strachan fabric for baize and Playne’s woven felt for tennis balls.
They declare their tennis ball felt is utilized by companies like Wilson, Slazenger, and Dunlop, at tournaments together with “Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open”. In the meantime their historic baize felt “has been the selection of the World Snooker Championships since 1980” and covers tables on the World Snooker Tour tournaments within the UK, USA and China.
WSP Textiles workplaces in Stroud, Gloucestershire (Picture: Google)
However greater than 50 employees at WSP Textiles are on strike this week and subsequent (February 2-7 and 11-13) over a pay dispute, after the corporate supplied only a 2.35 per cent pay supply amid the present cost-of-living disaster.
Most employees earn little greater than the minimal wage, and the Unite union claims they “haven’t had an above-inflation pay rise in years.”
The present strike motion follows 9 days of strikes by the corporate final month, from January 12-20, and once more on January 22 and 23.
Earlier strikes dates noticed the factories grind to a halt – and with 9 extra days deliberate this month, sporting tournaments this summer season might be in danger as manufacturing involves a standstill and orders go unfulfilled.
Unite mentioned WSP made almost £1.4 million in income in 2024, with over £23 million of income. The best paid director on the firm earns almost £100,000 but manufacturing line employees earn beneath £13ph.
Unite common secretary Sharon Graham mentioned: “Employees at WSP do an especially expert job that enables highly-paid sports activities stars to convey pleasure to thousands and thousands around the globe.
“This can be a worthwhile firm which is trying to disclaim its employees honest pay. Our members can have the total help of their union on this battle.”
WSP Textiles mentioned its supply mirrored “robust buying and selling circumstances”. The agency’s chief govt Duncan Kettell mentioned the corporate had a great document on pay.
“Our supply displays difficult enterprise circumstances in the mean time and what we are able to afford,” he added.
Kettell mentioned he wrote to all the agency’s workers in early-December outlining the explanations for its pay supply and confirming its board would work with the union to attempt to resolve the problem.
“So far as I can keep in mind, strike motion right here at WSP Textiles is a primary, however I’ve made it clear that the door stays open ought to the union convey a brand new proposal to the desk,” he mentioned.
Italian Jannik Sinner wins the 2025 Males’s Singles at Wimbledon (Picture: Getty)
Regional officer for the Unite union Michael Hobbs mentioned the organisation was a worthwhile firm and mentioned the supply was “nowhere close to an inflationary pay rise”.
Mr Hobbs mentioned the supply was “not adequate” for an organization which “had a turnover of about £23m and in 2024 returned a £1.4m revenue after tax”.
“They don’t seem to be quick. All we ask for is a good improve,” he added.
Mr Hobbs went on: “WSP has didn’t recognise the anger amongst its workforce. Given it has didn’t make a good pay supply, our members are pressured to take additional strike motion.
“WSP want to come back again to the negotiating desk with a significantly better supply, or main tennis and snooker occasions shall be beneath risk and WSP shall be rightly blamed.”
On their web site WSP Textiles explains they’ve a “250 12 months outdated heritage and international attain. We promote to over 40 nations worldwide and have associates based mostly in Singapore and Beijing.”
The Strachan household purchased Lodgemore mills in Stroud in 1865, which stays an operational website in the present day and is their headquarters.
The Strachan of Stroud trademark was first registered in 1890 and their Strachan model in the present day is the “benchmark in high quality for snooker and pool.”
They add: “Playne’s is our tennis model, the historical past of which dates again to 1759 when the Playne household purchased mills within the Stroud valleys from the place modern-day woven tennis felt was initially made.
“We’re companions with a few of the largest names within the tennis and billiard trade. Dunlop, Slazenger, Wilson, and Babolat. World Snooker, Beijing XingPai (Star model) and Pleasure in China. Thurston/Peradon and Suzo Happ within the UK.
“Strachan fabric has been the selection of the World Snooker Championships since 1980. We’re members of the Worldwide Tennis Federation and related with Nationwide, Regional and Worldwide Billiard Federations.
“Playne’s woven felt is chosen for Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open.”
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Day Twelve: The Championships – Wimbledon 2024 (Picture: Getty)
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