Wigan

The wildcat strike brought permanent and casual staff together, as bosses plan to cut temps' pay by 20%.

Wigan Today reported that almost the entire workforce of one of the borough's largest employers downed tools for 24 hours – against union advice – after a show of hands at two mass meetings.

JJB boss Whelan is notoriously anti-union and pro-poverty. His own personal fortune of £200 million is creamed from the low wages of his own staff. In 1997 workers forced JJB to increase wages. In 2006 the workers at the Wigan distribution depot took five days of strike action to secure improved and fair pay for all employees.

JJB, the sports retailer owned by former footballer and Wigan Athletic FC Chairman Dave Whelan, has been accused by the GMB union of breaking laws that prohibit employment agency staff from doing the jobs of strikers.

The GMB union said 266 of its members were on the picket line outside the warehouse in Martland Park, Wigan, in the early hours of the morning.

There will also be a ban on overtime from Tuesday morning as workers protest against a 3% pay rise.

Union negotiators are seeking a higher basic rate for staff and are calling for equal access to a bonus scheme.