Workers at WSP Textiles, a leading sports textile manufacturer based in Gloucestershire, are set to strike over a pay dispute, potentially impacting major tennis and snooker tournaments this spring.
WSP Textiles, with factories in Stroud and Dursley, produces iconic sporting materials, including tennis ball felt used by top brands like Wilson, Slazenger, and Dunlop. Their felt covers balls for high-profile events such as Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the French Open. Additionally, the company’s snooker baize is employed on tables worldwide and at prestigious World Snooker Tour tournaments held in the UK, USA, and China.
For the first time in the company’s history, nearly 50 workers, members of the Unite union, will strike between January 12 and January 20, and again on January 22 and 23, halting production and delaying orders. The dispute centers around a proposed 2.35% pay increase, which workers say is inadequate given the rising cost of living. Many production line employees earn just above minimum wage and have not received an above-inflation raise in years.
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Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham emphasized the skilled nature of the workers' roles, stating, “This profitable company is denying its employees fair pay while enabling top sports stars to perform at their best worldwide. Our members have our full support.”
WSP reported profits of nearly £1.4 million in 2024, on revenue exceeding £23 million. Despite this, the company’s highest-paid director earns close to £100,000 annually, while many workers earn under £13 per hour.
Unite Regional Officer Michael Hobbs warned that without improved pay offers, the ongoing strike could jeopardize the supply of essential materials, endangering major tennis and snooker tournaments and placing the blame squarely on WSP.