Greencore has been accused of an attack of its workers’ rights by union Unite, as 236 staff face redundancy.
Unite has filed a complaint with the Ethical Trading Initiative against Greencore in Hull, which makes cakes and desserts for a number of leading supermarkets.
It has accused it of “abolishing overtime, shift and bank holiday premia for all workers, the majority of whom are on the national minimum wage”.
According to Unite, the manufacturer is also threatening to make 236 people redundant and replace them with agency workers, as well as breaching employment law by issuing individual notices to terminate contracts and re-engage on workers on the new, and less preferable terms and conditions, before the end of the legal consultation period.
Greencore announced in May that 236 jobs were at risk at its east Hull site after reportedly losing a £7 million contract with Sainsbury’s.
The firm has been warned by Unite that it must put an end to these practices, or it will feel the full force of the union.
Jennie Formby, national officer, Unite, said: “We’re not prepared to sit back and allow blatant breaches of the Ethical Trading Initiative code which is there to protect workers from exploitation. Unite is now making a formal complaint to the ETI Board.”
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