Unite urges Two Sisters to reinstate workers, their union reps and
act on racial abuse allegations
3rd September 2009
Unite the union today (Thursday) warned Two Sisters' poultry
processing company that its ‘disgraceful' handling of a dispute at
its Smethwick plant near West Bromwich is irresponsible.
Sixty workers were suspended yesterday by Two Sisters for taking
unofficial action to defend their union convenor. The convenor has
also been suspended along with all union representatives at the
plant.
Unite says that the company must now work with the union to
hammer out a solution which will see all those suspended return to
work as soon as possible.
The action by the workers comes amid mounting concerns that the
company failed to act appropriately in response to a reported
incident of racial harassment at the site earlier this summer.
Following the company's investigation of the racial abuse, the
convenor who made the initial complaint was suspended while no
action was taken to investigate the complaint against the employee
who had made the abusive comments.
The company has now suspended all those workers who took part in
a sit-in in the factory canteen yesterday in defence of their six
union reps, and is refusing to work with Unite to ensure a speedy
return to work. Police were called to the site yesterday by the
company to maintain order, which Unite says was unnecessary and a
waste of police resources as the union officials were working hard
to return employees to work.
According to Joe Clarke, Unite regional officer, the company is
adding to tensions at the plant: "We take allegations of racial
abuse very seriously and would expect an employer to do so too.
Regrettably, Two Sisters has failed to satisfy its workers that it
will work with the union to address concerns of racial harassment
at their workplace.
"The workers are clearly aggrieved at the company's response to
the racial abuse allegations which, disgracefully, has been to
suspend the convenor who raised the concerns and tried to resolve
the matter. Of course we cannot support unofficial action, but the
company's ludicrous response to this situation is adding to
tensions at the plant, and has wasted police time and disrupted
production.
"This situation could all be solved if Two Sisters simply got
round the table with Unite and the workers' lawful reps to sort out
a solution. We urge Two Sisters to act responsibly and to talk to
us immediately to defuse this tense situation."
Unite fought to secure union recognition at Two Sisters but
believes the company's management has never accepted the will of
the workforce, which is that the employer works with the union to
agree terms and conditions.
Two Sisters supplies poultry products to some of the country's
leading retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and
Sainsbury's.
ENDS
For further information please call Joe Clarke on 07979 517 572
or Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861
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