Storm in a teacup say staff as three Tetley workers are 'suspended following a fight'

Three Tetley tea folk are believed to have been suspended at the firm’s Eaglescliffe factory after an alleged brawl on a bus.

But the issue is causing a stir among staff at the factory, with colleagues saying its all a storm in a teacup.

The Gazette has been told the alleged fight involved one woman and two men on the coach back from the staff New Year’s party at Crathorne Hall.

Police are not believed to have been involved.

The company, which manufactures tea locally at the Tata Global Beverages factory on Durham lane Industrial Estate, could not confirm any staff suspensions.

A Tetley spokesperson said today: “We have been made aware of a potential incident and are currently reviewing it internally.

“At this point there is nothing more to say on the matter.”

The Gazette was contacted by a member of staff who said “three workers have been suspended following a fight”.

“It was after the New Year’s party at Crathorne Hall,” he said. “It was the first party we have had for quite a while.”

The employee said morale at the factory had “been pretty bad” since the announcement of around 23 redundancies last summer.

“That was one of the reasons why we had the party to improve morale.

“The party itself was great, but then the fight started on the coach back. As a result one woman and two men have been suspended until investigations are carried out.

“The other staff, to be honest, think it should have been left on the bus - it was all done and dusted on the bus.”

Tata Global Beverages, home of the famous Tetley brand, employs more than 300 workers at its Eaglescliffe base, the largest teabag manufacturing plant in the world.

David Cameron at Tetley Tea factory in Eaglescliffe

The factory was used by Prime Minister David Cameron in December 2013 as the base from which to announce that Teesside had won City Deal status

But workers were left shocked in August last year after being told up to 23 jobs were expected to go amid a proposed restructure.

The firm said the restructure was necessary in order to secure the future of the business as a result of increased costs and a drop in orders.