A HOST of supermarkets and food providers need to be braced for shortages of ready meals this autumn as workers at Oscar Mayer ballot for strike action after their employer tried to force through a brutal fire and rehire process – that’s according to a union.
Over 550 members of Unite, employed by Oscar Mayer in Wrexham, will be balloted for strike action, in response to the company’s disgraceful decision to fire and rehire them.
The ready meal making company is pushing through a fire and rehire process which will see low paid workers worse off by around £2,000 a year. The company is seeking to remove some paid breaks, reduce other breaks and eradicate any enhanced payments and days off in lieu for working bank holidays.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The use of fire and rehire to make already low paid workers even poorer is despicable and without justification. Oscar Mayer should be ashamed of itself and must immediately drop this abhorrent plan.
“Unite has a laser like focus of always defending the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the Oscar Mayer workers will receive Unite’s total support throughout this dispute.”
If the workers, many of whom have English as a second language, refuse to sign the new inferior contract they will be dismissed without redundancy pay or compensation.
Oscar Mayer is one of the major ready meal suppliers in the UK and supplies large quantities of its products to Tesco, ASDA, Greggs, Aldi, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.
The ballot will open on Monday 29 July and closes on Tuesday 27 August. If workers vote for industrial action then strikes could begin in September.
Unite regional officer Jono Davies said: “Strike action will cause huge disruption to the supply of ready meals throughout the UK but this dispute is entirely of Oscar Mayer’s own making. It has refused to listen to reason and enter into negotiations with Unite to resolve the problems.
“Major disruption can be avoided but Oscar Mayer must drop its fire and rehire plans and enter into full negotiations with Unite.”
A spokesperson for Oscar Mayer, said: “We have attempted to engage with Unite at all stages of the process and are committed to holding a constructive consultation. We have robust contingency plans in place should they be needed, and we do not expect disruption to supply for our customers.”
