Protest over 54 sacked in 'race row'
16th October 2009
Calling Note:
- Protest to defend 54 sacked 2 Sisters workers
- 11am outside the M&S Store in High Street, Birmingham,
Saturday 17th October
Business and community leaders will demonstrate alongside sacked
2 Sisters workers this Saturday (17th October) outside the main
M&S Store in Birmingham over 54 innocent men and women sacked
for the supposed crimes of challenging racism and defending their
union reps who also face the sack.
54 workers at the 2 Sisters poultry processor's site A plant in
Birmingham have been unfairly dismissed for defending their union
reps against racist abuse.
This followed an incident in a factory employing overwhelmingly
migrant workers when a shop steward was abused by a security guard
who called him a “P*ki b*stard”. The shop steward was then
disciplined but no action was taken against the security guard.
The decision to commence a campaign of demonstrations outside of
M&S, a major client of 2 Sisters, follows the failure of
M&S at the highest level to intervene.
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, together with the 54 workers. A disciplinary
investigation is now underway into the convenor and the five shop
stewards, a process described by Unite as “a farce of a trial with
the verdict delivered in advance”.
2 Sisters is one of the companies under investigation by the
Equalities and Human Rights Commission which is conducting its
first Inquiry into division in the world of work and damage to
social cohesion caused by the exploitation of newly arrived migrant
workers and undercutting of indigenous workers in the 50,000 strong
Meat Industry.
Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of Unite, today
said: “2 Sisters refusal to face up to its responsibilities to
tackle abuse of vulnerable migrant workers from our ethnic
communities is a scandal. Now the company has thrown 54 innocent
men and women onto the dole for the supposed crimes of challenging
racism and defending their union reps who also face the sack. The
community of Birmingham is outraged by this company’s callous
behaviour, punishing families’ breadwinners, decent men and women,
who deserve their jobs back.”
2 Sisters supplies to most of the major supermarkets in Britain.
The decision to commence a campaign of demonstrations outside of
M&S follows the failure of M&S at the highest level to
intervene. M&S proposed to Unite and 2 Sisters a year ago a
tripartite initiative to promote a vision of 'Ethical Model
Factories' with fair and equal treatment of all workers at their
heart. Despite the poor reputation of 2 Sisters in the meat
industry, Unite agreed. M&S has now washed its hands of
responsibility.
Jack Dromey added: “In good faith, we sought to build a better
relationship with 2 Sisters, working with M&S. But 2 Sisters
has repeatedly broken promises to improve. Now we have 54 workers
sacked, triggered off by racist abuse. If the term “P*ki” is
unacceptable on the dance floor, then there can never be BNP
language on the shop floor. I am disappointed that M&S has gone
backwards but it cannot escape its responsibilities now to move
things forward.”
A growing coalition of business and community leaders will
demonstrate together with the sacked 2 Sisters workers this
Saturday outside of the main M&S Store in High Street,
Birmingham. Unite will then be stepping up its campaign next week,
further details to follow.
ENDS
For further information contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931
315
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