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uniteLANDWORKER Comment
Bev Clarkson Unite national officer
Food, drink and agricultural sector SOLIDARITY WINS
CHEERS TO RECOGNITION
Workers at the Camden Town Brewery in Enfield raised a glass to Unite in December after Unite successfully secured formal recognition for its members at the facility, writes Keith Hatch.
Around 40 employees are covered by the agreement, including brewers, technicians, warehouse staff, and packaging workers, which ensures that Unite will represent them in negotiations over pay, terms and conditions, and health and safety matters.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Well done to our reps at Camden Town Brewery. Through their hard work and determination, they’ve secured recognition that will benefit the entire workforce. This is another example of how Unite’s focus on the workplace is driving up pay and conditions across the board.”
Alongside industrial reps, the deal includes an equality representative, ensuring that workplace equity remains a priority.
Camden Town Brewery is owned and operated by global brewing giant AB-InBev. It is one of the most recognisable names on the taps in many pubs across the country.
Unite regional officer Simon McCartney said, “Securing recognition at Camden Town Brewery is just a starting point.
“Unite is committed to securing recognition at other independent breweries, so workers across the sector can enjoy the same robust protections and benefits as those at more established brewers.”
This recognition agreement marks a milestone in Unite’s ongoing efforts to improve workers’ conditions.
5 uniteLANDWORKER Winter 2024
It’s been quite a time recently for our food manufacturing members, who stood firm in the fight against employers paying unfairly and following bad practices.
One such employer was food manufacturers Oscar Mayer and I’m delighted to report that our members at the Wrexham factory have won their campaign against their firm’s use of the unethical practice of fire and rehire, following continuous action and pressure from Unite.
We rarely have strikes – especially prolonged strikes in the sector – and the members refused to give in. I’m really proud of them, as I am of the support our branches up and down the country gave the strikers – including solidarity from our Tolpuddle branch.
Their victory shows that when you stand together you can defeat the bullying bosses. You do not have to accept worsening conditions at work, and you don’t have to face a race to the bottom. Decent pay and terms and conditions are possible with the collective strength of Unite.
At a time when world markets are more chaotic and unpredictable than usual, it’s even more important to be in Unite. Unite is a major union in the IUF – the 12m strong international union representing food and farm workers among others. I am proud to say that on behalf of Unite I am the president of the agricultural and food workers trade group.
We live and work in a global world – whatever President Trump may think – and Unite is concerned with fair wages, working conditions, safety and labour rights for workers across the agricultural sector.
We need to stand together, work together on a global scale to tackle these concerns.
Like where Unite worked with IUF unions to end abhorrent sexual abuse on Kenyan tea farms as featured in Landworker last summer. Union action really does work. So does solidarity.
See pages 7 and 30
Alamy
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