Unite is threatening to take legal action against Oscar Mayer over what the union claims are “fire and rehire” tactics employed by the UK-based ready-meals maker.
Strike action has now been extended by two weeks at Oscar Mayer’s Wrexham factory in north-east Wales “due to the company’s refusal to enter into negotiations to resolve the dispute”, Unite said in a statement today (10 October).
Four weeks of strikes started in mid-September and were slated to end this week among more than 500 workers at the plant “over the company’s plans to fire and rehire them to reduce wages by up to £3,000 ($3,925) a year”, Unite added.
Oscar Mayer, a supplier of branded and private-label ready meals to major UK supermarkets, has previously refuted the claims of fire and rehire practises, allegations that emerged as far back as June.
At that time, chief executive Ian Toal said the accusations were “an entirely inaccurate reflection on the consultation process we continue to undertake at our Wrexham site”.
The company confirmed in June that Oscar Mayer planned “to end paid breaks, remove bank holiday rates and time off in lieu and change shift patterns to reduce pay”.
Oscar Mayer responded today, via a spokesperson, to Just Food's request for comment: “We remain disappointed by Unite’s decision to undertake industrial action and by their public claims to date, which have been factually inaccurate.
“We have engaged fully and constructively with our colleagues and their representatives throughout this process and the majority of our employees have signed the new terms.
“At all times, we have complied fully with all relevant regulations, continue to do so, and will defend our approach in the strongest terms should Unite pursue this spurious legal action.”
A Unite spokesperson told Just Food today that legal action has not yet been launched but the union is “in the process of doing so”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in the statement: “Shame on Oscar Mayer for cynically trying to fire and rehire workers in order to boost turnover at the expense of already low-paid workers.
“Today we are putting Oscar Mayer on notice that no stone will be left unturned, be it industrially, legally or politically in the defence of our members.”
The union said it had written to Oscar Mayer to inform the company of its plans to pursue legal proceedings.
“Unite will mount a series of unfair dismissal cases (where workers have been dismissed) and protective awards cases on behalf of all its members for a failure to correctly consult with the workforce, prior to fire and rehiring them,” it said.
“The protective awards claim alone could be worth in excess of £3 million.”
Unite suggested many of the Wrexham workers do not speak English as a first language and “are being threatened with dismissal without compensation if they refuse to agree to the detrimental terms by signing new contracts”.
Some have already been dismissed, it claimed.
Unite’s regional officer Jono Davies added: “The company could resolve this dispute tomorrow by dropping its fire and rehire plans and entering into proper negotiations with Unite.”
Oscar Mayer added today: “The changes we have made have not been made lightly but are absolutely necessary to ensure a long-term sustainable business and protect the jobs we provide in the local community.
"These measures also put us in line with the majority of other businesses in our sector and similar companies in the local area. We continue to engage with our colleagues."
