Feature Strikes in the food sector
REFUSING TO BE TREATED SO POORLY
Workers in food manufacturing factories and supermarkets having to use food banks because of low pay might sound like a sick joke.
But it’s happening to Unite members across the country amid an outbreak of industrial disputes which officials fear could get worse unless employers start negotiating on pay and conditions.
The government’s much heralded Employment Relations Bill promises the biggest overhaul in workers’ rights in a generation, giving unions like Unite hope that the clock can be turned back on outrageous practices such as fire and rehire and the growth of exploitative zero hours contracts.
But rather than the legislation producing a silver lining, storm clouds are gathering - especially in important sectors where Unite represents huge numbers of members, such as food and drink.
It is the biggest manufacturing industry, well ahead of traditional areas such as motoring, aerospace and steel.
Food and drink manufacturing contributes more to the economy than all other manufacturing sectors, with employment nearing half a million across every part of the UK.
But despite its importance and status as a huge employer, Unite has been facing a number of disputes over pay and conditions as well as fire and rehire threats.
Labour is promising to outlaw the practice with its new bill on workers’ rights – but most of the measures in the legislation will not come into effect for another two years, leaving firms free to carry on attacking pay and conditions.
There is also a worry that some employers will use the next two years as a chance to scrap rights such as paid breaks and enhanced pay for weekend work – which is exactly what is happening at a factory in Wrexham, north Wales.
Hundreds of Unite members at the Oscar Mayer site have been on strike over plans the union says will cut wages by up to £3,000 a year.
Unite is launching a multi-million- pound legal case on behalf of its members, many of whom speak English as a second language.
Workers say they are being threatened with dismissal without compensation if they refuse to agree to worse terms by signing new contracts, and some have been dismissed as they have not fully understood the notice period deadlines to accept the changes.
Unite has announced it will mount unfair dismissal cases and protective awards cases, claiming a failure to correctly consult with the workforce, prior to fire and rehiring them.
18 uniteLANDWORKER Autumn 2024
“Oscar Mayer must drop its fire and rehire plans and enter into full negotiations with Unite.”
Hundreds of Unite members employed by Bakkavor in Spalding, Lincolnshire, have also been taking strike action in recent weeks in a dispute over pay.
They make and prepare meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for Bakkavor’s customers which again includes major supermarkets.
Unite regional officer Sam Hennessy said, “Bakkavor is stalling and refusing to negotiate constructively and take an approach of ‘my way or the highway.’
Enough is enough say Unite’s food sector workers as 1,300 members go on strike
Unite regional officer Jono Davies revealed that the union’s membership at the company had increased tenfold since the start of the dispute, from 50 to more than 550.
He said, “That just shows the determination of the workers to defend the right to maintain their contract of employment.”
He said the strikes had caused huge disruption to the supply of ready meals to supermarkets but added that the dispute was entirely of Oscar Mayer’s own making.
“It has refused to listen to reason and enter into negotiations with Unite to resolve the problems.
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