Tailor hits out over strike threats

Austen Pickles, founder of Buxton Pickles, said state workers will have to go though the painful adjustments seen in the private sector two years ago. He was speaking as the Saltaire firm, which designs and manufactures tailoring for Next, Hobbs, Jaeger, French Connection and Austin Reed, marks its tenth anniversary.

He told the Yorkshire Post: “I am sick and tired of hearing about the public sector being bullied by the Government, threatening strike action and a summer of discontent. There was a lot less moaning from the private sector when we had to tighten our belts and deal with the recession in real time, not a few years later when the changes and cuts can be managed in a timely way.”

Buxton Pickles survived the downturn by asking its workforce, then 12 people, to accept a pay cut or a three-day week. All agreed and the firm has since grown to 30 staff. Turnover will rise above £7m this year, compared to £6.8m in 2010, Mr Pickles added.

The entrepreneur said the majority of private sector workers would “snap your hand off” for pensions which rivalled those of state workers.

Buxton’s subsidiary is Norton & Townsend bespoke tailors, which has showrooms in Salts Mill, Saltaire and East London, as well as 15 tailors across Britain.