Huge 97 per cent vote in favour of escalating industrial action
Wrexham Oscar Mayer strikes will intensify after nearly 600 workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of extending their industrial action mandate, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.
The workers, who make up the vast majority of the Wrexham factory’s workforce, have been striking since September over the company’s plans to fire and rehire them to slash pay by up to £3,000 a year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Fire and rehire is appalling exploitation that needs to be banned outright. Oscar Mayer’s use of it brings shame on every company that stocks its products.
“Oscar Mayer’s workers are massively strong and are in this fight until they win. Unite will be with them every step of the way.”
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.
Supermarket Christmas shortages
The next round of strike action takes place from 28 November to 5 December. With the extension of the industrial action mandate, further strikes impacting supermarket Christmas supplies will be announced in the coming days.
Unite regional officer Jono Davies said: “Oscar Mayer only has itself to blame for the disruption that will be caused during the busiest food trading period of the year. The strikes will not end until the company drops its abhorrent fire and rehire plans.”
ENDS
For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.
Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org
Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.