Protest to defend 59 sacked 2 Sisters workers
22nd October 2009
Calling notice: 1.00pm outside the M&S
store in High Street, Birmingham, Friday 23rd October
2 Sisters Workers sacked in race insult row continue
protest outside M&S in Birmingham
Workers at 2 Sisters - sacked for challenging racism in the
workplace - will continue their demonstration outside M&S in
High Street, Birmingham tomorrow (Friday 23rd October) at
1.00pm.
The decision to commence a campaign of demonstrations outside
M&S, a major client of 2 Sisters, follows the failure of
M&S at the highest level to intervene.
The 59 sackings followed an incident at a 2 Sisters 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 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 and subsequently sacked, together with
the 54 workers.
Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of Unite, said: "It is
more important than ever to stand up to racism. This is a wake up
call for 2 Sisters and M&S - we are not going away! Our message
is clear we do not tolerate racism and we will not rest until
justice is done. These workers and our union representatives must
be reinstated.
“If you have the power to stand up to racism then it is your
duty to act. 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 59 workers
sacked, triggered off by racist abuse. I am disappointed that
M&S has gone backwards, but it cannot escape its
responsibilities now to help move things forward.”
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo 07768 931 315
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