Workers walk out at 2 Sisters sites
The first of a series of 24-hour strikes is taking place at three poultry processing sites in the West Midlands today (Friday), after negotiations with trade union Unite broke down.
Around 500 workers from 2 Sisters’ Bevan Way and Dial Lane sites in West Bromwich, and the Lincoln Street plant in Wolverhampton, walked out at 6am because of disputes over pay and shift patterns, and an alleged “culture of bullying”.
Unite has predicted the strikes will hit the supply of cut chicken to supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas, but a spokesman for 2 sisters said that production would be “completely unaffected”.
“Around half of the workforce at the sites are members of Unite, so they are still operational. We have capacity elsewhere and will manage through contingency.”
The spokesman also confirmed that farmers who supply the processing plants would not be affected.
Unite has said that the disputes are over pay increases and a proposed move to keep the factory operating over weekends.
The trade union called an offer to increase pay by 20p/hour “derisory”.
2 Sisters wants to keep the plants operational over the weekend; something it says is a necessity due to increased demand for its products.
The firm said it planned to employ up to 500 more people in the West Midlands, but would only be able to do so if it could keep plants open over the weekend, meaning staff would have to work five-in-seven day shift patterns. Unite said this would “adversely affect employees’ work-life balance”.
Unite regional officer, Des Quinn said that although discussions had broken down, good progress had been made on some of the issues. The next strike will be held on Tuesday 18 December, and the third is scheduled for Friday 21 December.