Strikes at UK firm could hit snooker and tennis events like Wimbledon | UK | News

Sporting events such as Wimbledon and the World Snooker Championships could be affected after strikes were announced at the 250-year-old British firm, which produces broadcloth for billiards tables and tennis ball felt. WSP Textiles, which has factories in Stroud and Dursley in Gloucestershire, produces some of the most famous sports fabrics in the world: Strachan fabric for broadcloth and Playne woven felt for tennis balls.

They claim that tennis ball felts are used in tournaments such as “Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open” by companies such as Wilson, Slazenger and Dunlop. Meanwhile, historic broadcloth felts have “been the choice of the World Snooker Championship since 1980” and cover the tables at World Snooker Tour tournaments in the UK, USA and China.

But more than 50 workers at WSP Textiles are on strike this week and next week (February 2-7 and 11-13) over a pay dispute after the company offered a wage of just 2.35 per cent amid the current cost of living crisis.

Most workers earn just above the minimum wage, and the Unite union claims they “haven’t seen pay rises above inflation for years”.

The current strike action follows the company’s nine-day strike last month on January 12-20 and January 22 and 23.

Factories had ground to a halt on previous strike dates, and with nine more days planned this month, sports tournaments this summer could be at risk as production grinds to a halt and orders go unfulfilled.

Unite said WSP made a profit of around £1.4 million in 2024 on revenue of more than £23 million. The highest-paid manager at the company earns around £100,000, but production line workers earn less than £13.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at WSP do a highly skilled job that enables highly paid sports stars to bring pleasure to millions around the world.

“This is a profitable company trying to prevent its workers from receiving fair wages. Our members will have the full support of their union in this fight.”

WSP Textiles said its offer reflected “challenging trading conditions”. The firm’s CEO, Duncan Kettell, said the company had a good record on pay.

“Our offer reflects the challenging business conditions at the moment and what we can afford,” he added.

Kettell said the firm wrote a letter to all employees at the beginning of December explaining the reasons for the pay offer and confirmed the board would work with the union to resolve the issue.

“Strike action is a first at WSP Textiles as far as I can remember, but I made it clear that the door would remain open if the union brought a new proposal to the table,” he said.

Unite union regional leader Michael Hobbs said the organization was a profitable business and the offer was “nowhere near inflationary pay rises”.

Mr Hobbs said the offer was “not good enough” for a company that “has a turnover of around £23m and generates profits after tax of £1.4m in 2024”.

“They are not short. All we want is a fair increase,” he added.

Mr Hobbs continued: “WSP has failed to recognize the anger among the workforce. Given its failure to offer fair pay, our members are being forced to take further strike action.

“WSP needs to come back to the negotiating table with a much better offer, otherwise major tennis and billiards events will be threatened and WSP will rightly be blamed.”

WSP Textiles explains on its website that they “have a 250-year heritage and global reach.” “We sell to more than 40 countries worldwide and have partners based in Singapore and Beijing.”

The Strachan family purchased the Lodgemore mills in Stroud in 1865; This is a facility that is still in operation today and is their headquarters.

Stroud’s Strachan trademark was first registered in 1890 and today the Strachan brand is “the benchmark in quality for snooker and billiards.”

They add: “Playne’s is our tennis brand and its history dates back to 1759, when the Playne family bought the mills in the Stroud valleys where today’s woven tennis mat was originally produced.

“We partner with some of the biggest names in tennis and snooker: Dunlop, Slazenger, Wilson and Babolat. In China, World Snooker, Beijing XingPai (Star brand) and Joy. In the UK, Thurston/Peradon and Suzo Happ.

“Strachan fabric has been the choice of the World Snooker Championship since 1980. We are members of the International Tennis Federation and are affiliated with National, Regional and International Billiard Federations.

“Playne’s woven felt has been selected for Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open.”