Unite, the UK’s leading union, is launching a multi-million pound legal case on behalf of its members affected by the disgraceful decision by ready meal maker Oscar Mayer to fire and rehire them.
Disgraceful decision
More than 500 Oscar Mayer workers in Wrexham initially began four weeks of strikes in September over the company’s plans to fire and rehire them to reduce wages by up to £3,000 a year.
The strikes were due to conclude this week, but the union has extended industrial action for a further two weeks due to the company’s refusal to enter into negotiations to resolve the dispute.
The workers, many of whom speak English as a second language, are being threatened with dismissal without compensation if they refuse to agree to the detrimental terms by signing new contracts. Alarmingly, some members have been dismissed as they have not fully understood the notice period deadlines to accept the changes.
In response Unite has now written to the company informing it that it is now pursuing Oscar Mayer for legal action on behalf of its members. Unite will mount a series of unfair dismissal cases (where workers have been dismissed) and protective awards cases on behalf of all its members for a failure to correctly consult with the workforce, prior to fire and rehiring them. The protective awards claim alone could be worth in excess of £3 million.
Shame on Oscar Meyer
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Shame on Oscar Mayer for cynically trying to fire and rehire workers in order to boost turnover at the expense of already low paid workers.
“Today we are putting Oscar Mayer on notice that no stone will be left unturned, be it industrially, legally or politically in the defence of our members.”
Oscar Mayer is one of the UK’s major ready meal manufacturers and supplies large quantities of its products to Tesco, ASDA, Greggs, Aldi, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.
Unite regional officer Jono Davies said: “The charge sheet is mounting against Oscar Mayer and its management. As a result of its disastrous plans to fire and rehire its workers. The company could resolve this dispute tomorrow by dropping its fire and rehire plans and entering into proper negotiations with Unite.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235. Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org
- Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.