Hovis Wigan bakery strike
Staff at Premier Foods’ Wigan Hovis bakery voted for strike action in protest at the use of agency workers on zero-hours contracts following permanent employees’ redundancies and pay cuts in August.
The Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) launched a two-week ballot of its members at the site on August 6 after management refused to address complaints.
Of the 230 ballot forms sent out, 120 votes were returned in favour of strike action, 39 votes rejecting strikes and the rest were not returned – apart from one soiled paper.
By mid-September, with the strike action in its second week, attitudes were said to be hardening with the BFAWU and Premier Foods showing no signs of settling the dispute.
BFAWU members at Hovis received “countless” messages of support from Labour MPs and organisations.
The strike finally ended on September 30, which although coming as a relief for Premier Foods that normal service would now resume, the damage in the firm’s image was said to have already been done.
Under the terms of the deal, there will be a review of manning levels at the plant and 24 staff, previously employed on zero-hours contracts, have now been taken on full-time. The use of inferior employment terms and conditions for third-party staff will also end.
While Premier will be allowed to continue using agency staff, it will first have to offer extra hours to its permanent staff. The Wigan Hovis factory employs 357 people.