Feature Strikes in the food sector
UNITE WINS Unite has won pay battles at
a number of other food and drink manufacturing firms in recent months, including at the sandwich and convenience food manufacturer Greencore in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, where staff received a 10 per cent increase backdated to April 2023 and an additional 5.25 per cent increase from April 2024.
Workers employed by Suntory Beverage & Food in Gloucestershire called off industrial action after Unite secured a 5.5 per cent pay increase.
The deal followed strikes at Suntory, which produces popular drinks including Lucozade and Ribena.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said of the disputes, “It shows there is power in a union and that Unite will fight tooth and nail for its members in our relentless pursuit of better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Employment rights bill Unite remains heavily involved in defending workers facing cuts to their living standards and isn’t waiting two years for the government’s reforms to take effect.
Bev Clarkson adds, “It is a challenging sector anyway, but we now have to face the possibility that firms will move to attack pay, terms and conditions before the new law comes in.”
Labour’s Employment Rights Bill is aimed at ending ‘exploitative’ zero hours contracts as well as unscrupulous employment practices. Ministers say it is a priority and none more so than shutting down the loopholes that allow bullying fire and rehire and fire and replace to continue.
Sharon Graham said the Bill was “without doubt a significant step forward” for workers but she added that it stopped short of making work pay.
“Unite will continue to make the workers’ voice heard as we push for improvements to the legislation as the Bill goes through parliament.
“The bill still ties itself up in knots trying to avoid what was promised. Failure to end fire and rehire and zero hours contracts once and for all will leave more holes than Swiss cheese that hostile employers will use.”
Workers in food and drink manufacturing firms well understand the potential holes in the government’s efforts but are hoping they will soon be able to “say cheese” to better pay and conditions.
• See pages 5, 14 to 17 ‘‘
The bill still ties itself up in knots trying to avoid what was promised. Failure to end fire and rehire and zero hours contracts once and for all will leave more holes than Swiss cheese that hostile employers will use
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary
20 uniteLANDWORKER Autumn 2024
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Mark Thomas
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