ON April 1st, the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) alongside other campaigning organisations, took part in a Fast Food Rights/Hungry for Justice protest alongside the BFAWU Bakers Union outside Downing Street. It was to protest at the Government’s new ‘Gimmick’ National Living Wage. The Tories tried to portray it as a real breakthrough for the low-paid but BFAWU President Ian Hodson attacked the hypocrisy of a ‘minimum wage’ that didn’t apply to workers under the age of 25.
But he also warned that unscrupulous employers would try to make their workers pay for the rise by cutting shift allowances and other premiums. This week, BFAWU members are on strike in two plants to fight the cost-cutting of 2 Sisters Food Group of companies. Workers will be taking their second 48-hour strike from Sunday at Pennine Foods in Sheffield, while the first 2-day action will start from Thursday at RF Brookes in Newport. The two strikes will be linked-up with Sheffield workers travelling to the Newport picket, where they will also be joined by PCS National Museum Wales strikers. Now Unite members at the company’s Pizza Factory in Nottingham are also balloting.
If the workers needed any inspiration, they only have to look to their own fellow BFAWU members at yet another 2-Sisters factory Gunstones, also in Sheffield last year, when workers won a pay rise after they took strike action for the first time ever. The NSSN will be on both picket lines over the next few days and have assisted with protests against M&S who are supplied by 2 Sisters. are determined to help build solidarity throughout the union movement to assist the BFAWU in winning more victories.
Pennine Foods Sheffield – Please send messages of support to john.higgins@bfawu.org / haroon.rashid@bfawu.org and donations: make cheques out to BFAWU and send to Pennine Strike Fund - BFAWU, Stanborough House, Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7TA Support Pennine Strike Facebook Group
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