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• Unite to announce result of BA cabin crew ballot
• Global union calls on governments to support steelworkers
• Kingston NHS social enterprise experiment ‘could cost £578,000’
• Unite members at National Grid to be balloted for strike action
• Bus drivers from CT Plus and the East London Bus Group confirm further strike action
• 2 Sisters faces strike ballot triggered by racist abuse
• Unite and CSEU's reaction to jobs cuts and BAE System's Insyte operation
• Unite members demonstrate against Plymouth City Council’s proposal to sell CityBus
• London bus drivers step up strike against basement level wages
• Superdrug workers claim major victory following two-week strike action

2 Sisters faces strike ballot triggered by racist abuse

14th December 2009

380 workers employed by 2 Sisters in Birmingham - a  supplier of poultry to supermarkets including M&S, Tesco and Asda - are being balloted for strike action over the sacking of 59 colleagues who challenged racism at the site.

A yes vote would lead to a strike in January, the busiest period for the 2 Sisters chicken business as consumers tighten their belts following the Christmas festivities.

The ballot which begins today (14th December), follows a campaign of demonstrations outside M&S, a major client of 2 Sisters, as well as a legal battle over the sackings, which will see the company facing charges of unfair dismissal and race discrimination at an employment tribunal in the New Year.

Supermarkets are expressing growing concern, leading to a loss of business for 2 Sisters. One Budgen's outlet has already cancelled a major order. More will follow.

The 59 sackings followed an incident at the 2 Sisters factory in (July) in Birmingham employing overwhelmingly migrant workers, when a shop steward was abused by a security guard who called him a “F***ing P*ki b*stard”.

The shop steward was then disciplined but no action was taken against the security guard. The disciplined shop steward appealed and his appeal was turned down. The plant convenor went to his aid and was suspended. 54 workers then stopped work and five shop stewards acted immediately to get them to resume production. The five shop stewards were then suspended and subsequently sacked, together with the 54 workers.

380 workers are being balloted at 2 Sisters’ site A in Birmingham. The result of the ballot is expected on 4th January. With the overwhelming ethnic make up of the site, the ballot papers have been translated into Urdu and Punjabi.

Unite's deputy general secretary, Jack Dromey said: "59 Workers and their union representatives were sacked for standing up to racism in the workplace. Now hundreds of workers at 2 Sisters will decide if they too stand up to racism and support their victimised workmates. The message from the workforce is clear - this is wrong and they will strike for what is right."

ENDS