Meat packers 100% behind strike

The 21 workers in the cutting department at Tulip Fresh Meats in Dukinfield will launch a one-day walkout on September 6 and then every Monday and Thursday until the dispute is resolved.

A continuous overtime ban will also take effect from the same day. Last minute talks on August 28 failed to produce an improved offer.

Community union said earlier this year the 21 members unanimously rejected a proposal from the company to change the bonus scheme.

They said the proposal failed to address the unfairness where workers on the same rate receive different bonus payments and some skilled workers get less than unskilled.

Community claim in some cases the company's revised scheme would have resulted in pay cuts of up to £3,000 a year for workers already "struggling to make ends meet."

Tulip Fresh Meats is a major supplier of food products to the retail and food service markets in Britain, including leading supermarkets such as Tesco.

Community campaign manager Chris Ambrose said: "The 100 per cent support our members have shown for both strike action and an overtime ban sends a clear message to the company that they are determined to get a fairer bonus scheme.

"It's still not too late for the company to get back round the table and resolve this dispute."

tonyp@peoples-press.com