Families face "disappointment" on Christmas day as a long dispute over pay means strike action continues.
The ECHO previously reported how staff at Jacob's Bakery in Aintree are set to go on a "permanent strike" as they continue to fight for a "fair pay deal". Staff at the plant in Aintree have been taking limited industrial action since September, but walked out on Monday on indefinite strike.
As hundreds of staff members continue to strike, they say they are prepared to "fight until the end", but added it is a "stressful time". Eamon O’Hearn, national officer of the GMB union, previously said: "These workers are rightly angry - they put themselves on the line to keep the company going during the pandemic. Now they need some help to get them through the cost-of-living crisis, but it’s falling on deaf ears."
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Gemma Lewis, who has worked at the company for 21 years, told the ECHO she is worried for the coming months. Living alone with her 13-year-old daughter, she said she wants to give her the best Christmas she can, but worries that may not come true.
She added: "It's been very stressful, it can be at times. I'm one of these that buys everyone a Christmas present, for the entire family but I've had to say I can only buy my little girl and mum and dad and I don't know if I can afford to buy my girl what she wants. I don't want to disappoint her on Christmas day but it's a struggle.
"At the minute, I still have enough to buy a loaf the next day. I'm job share, part time and people don't realise that we've lost out too. I will do whatever it takes money wise, I will be here until the end. I'll stay out and strike.
"King Charles recently said he will pay his staff a bonus because he recognises how hard it is. We worked through covid and never lost any production, they were begging people to take over time and people did. They made millions in profit and we want a bit of that, all we want is a fair deal to reflect a hard days work."
Another staff member, who did not wish to be named, said: "Everything is going up and we deserve the pay to deal with it. The company is making millions in profit every year as well as running McVitie's who obviously are a massive brand themselves. The owners haven’t spent a penny on the plant and the least they can do is give us a fair pay deal to compensate for the cost of living.
"The port of Liverpool have just won a pay deal so it goes to show that striking does get us a deal in the end but it’s how long people will tolerate it for."
Others echo similar as they say they fear the winter months as energy bills soar and Christmas is "around the corner". One dad, who has recently been dismissed, said he does not know where his next wage will come from, but was still out supporting the strike today.
He said: "I'm outside here today so people can get a better pay deal. We lost money a couple of years ago on the understanding that we were going to get a brand new canteen and to improve our factory but we never got anything, the roof is still leaking.
"We as a company are falling behind others. I have four kids at home and a Mrs, it's all been very stressful. At the moment, I don't know if I can afford the Christmas presents my kids will want because I don't know when my next wage will come in. But I'm here to show my support today, as I have from the start."
Today, workers once again gathered outside the gates, with support from passing vehicles. GMB Union banners and flags were also displayed by union members along the road as drinks and snacks handed out to members, some of who had been there from 7am.
The Jacob's factory on Long Lane produces millions of cream crackers each year - with more than half a billion individual crackers sold each year. The site has been operating in Aintree for more than 100 years and it was the first Jacob's factory to be built in England.
A spokesperson for Pladis UK&I said: "We regret that the GMB has decided to take this course of action, despite all of the efforts we have made to reach an agreement with the union. However, we want to reiterate that our door remains open to the GMB for further discussions with their representatives."
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