You can smell it before you see it. The Cepac plant in Darlington squats like a grim fortress on the edge of town, belching out the stench of wet cardboard and desperation. Inside, the machines hum day and evening, churning out packaging for household brands, while the workers – those poor bastards – grind themselves into dust for a pay check that barely covers the rent. This is the heart of Cepac Ltd, the self-proclaimed “UK’s leading independent corrugated packaging provider.” But scratch the surface, and you’ll find a company rotting from the inside out, festering with labour disputes, broken promises, and a management team that treats its workforce like disposable parts.
Let’s cut to the chase: Cepac is a shitshow. And the proof is in the pudding – or rather, in the strike that crippled their Darlington plant back in 2023. Over 90 workers, members of Unite, walked out on 14 August, sick to death of being shafted by a company that dangled an 8% pay rise like a carrot, only to tie it to longer hours, lower overtime rates, and a shift pattern that would make a sweatshop blush. The workers said no. Hell no. And for 10 weeks, they stood their ground, picket lines drawn, while Cepac’s suits sat in their offices, plotting redundancies like petty dictators.
The strike was more than just a protest over pay; it was a battle for dignity. Cepac’s offer of an 8% pay rise came with strings attached – longer hours, reduced overtime rates, and a shift pattern that would have workers burning the candle at both ends. The union saw through the smoke and mirrors. Unite didn’t just call the company’s bluff; they called them out. “Profit obsessed,” they said, slamming Cepac’s threat to “fire and rehire” – a move where workers are sacked and brought back on worse terms, a legal loophole that’s as dirty as it sounds. It’s the kind of tactic that makes you wonder if the suits at the top have ever worked a day on the factory floor. Unite wasn’t having it. They threatened legal action, calling the whole mess “despicable,” and for once, the word didn’t feel like hyperbole.
Cepac’s response? Threaten to sack 61 of them. “Business stability,” they called it. “Investment at risk.” Bollocks. What they meant was: toe the line or get booted. It was a mugging, plain and simple. The kind of corporate thuggery that leaves families wondering how they’ll pay the bills while the bosses sip champagne at industry awards.
But the strike is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a cesspool of employee dissatisfaction. Take a gander at the reviews on Indeed – real workers, real stories. One poor sod in April 2025 called the leadership “deeply flawed,” warning of downturns at Rawcliffe and Darlington. Another said, “If you’re not a yes man, don’t bother.” You want a pay rise? Better start licking boots, because merit doesn’t mean shit here. It’s a place where ambition goes to die, where the only way up is to kiss the ring of some middle manager who’s more interested in hitting targets than treating people like human beings.
Sure, there are a few glowing reviews – healthcare, pensions, the usual crumbs thrown to keep the masses quiet. But don’t be fooled. Those are the exceptions, not the rule. The truth is, Cepac’s management is a masterclass in how to piss off your workforce and still sleep at night.
And here’s where it gets personal. This is the same plant – the very same one – that will soon face off against me in a case involving alleged disability discrimination in recruitment. I won’t say more – lawyers and all that – but let’s just say the rot runs deep. When a company treats its workers like this, is it any surprise they’d turn a blind eye to fairness elsewhere? It’s a pattern, a culture, a festering wound that no amount of PR spin can bandage.
Cepac loves to tout its sustainability creds – solar panels, green energy, all that jazz. But what’s the point of saving the planet if you’re screwing over the people who make your business run? It’s lipstick on a pig. A shiny distraction from the ugly truth: this is a company that puts profit over people, every damn time.
So, what’s the takeaway? Cepac Ltd is a cautionary tale. A story of greed, exploitation, and a management team that’s lost its way. The workers at Darlington deserve better. Hell, we all do. But until the suits at the top pull their heads out of their arses, nothing’s going to change. And that, my friends, is the real tragedy.
Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project.
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