Union takes legal advice on Cranswick’s treatment of workers

Dave Oglesby of Britain’s general union GMB told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “I’ve been a union rep for eight years and I’ve never seen a company be so aggressive towards its workers.”​

Staff were issued with a 90-day notice of termination of their contracts of employment. This expires on October 1, after which time the staff will be issued with new contracts of employment.

'Unfair dismissal'​

“We’re taking advice from our lawyers over whether this constitutes unfair dismissal,”​ said Oglesby. “A contract of employment requires agreement between two parties to change it.”​

About 78 butchers picketed the site yesterday (August 30). They face a pay cut of 20% and haven’t had a pay rise for 10 years, according to Oglesby.

Chris Aldersley, the plant’s md, told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “I completely disagree with that statement. They’re paid on an element of throughput so they have taken more money home. They’re taking a headline figure with their overtime included. These are the same people who say they don’t want overtime.”​