Tessa Warrington addresses a BFAWU meeting to give solidarity from the NSSN, 26.2.16, photo by Mike Barker (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Mike Barker, Leicester Socialist Party
Workers at food manufacturer Samworth Brothers are adamant that their bosses should be forced to recognise a union in their workplace as employees in many cases stand to “lose thousands of pounds in wages.”
More than a hundred workers gathered at a vibrant public meeting on 26 February to learn more about how their joining the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) will enable them to fight for decent, just and fair treatment at work. They eagerly took away union membership forms for themselves and their co-workers.
This followed a 300-strong union meeting on 12 February as reported in last week’s issue and another packed meeting in Melton Mowbray the following weekend.
Speakers included Tessa Warrington, from the local National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), who offered “solidarity from shop stewards up and down the country who want to support you in your efforts to unionise your workplaces and fight off the massively unfair changes to pay proposed by Samworth Brothers. Your fight is our fight, and we will stand with you.”
One Samworth worker put it simply: “it is us on the shop floor, working hard for Samworth Brothers, and we are not happy about the cuts.”
The highlight, however, was a speech delivered by a local doctor, who brought a message of support from members of the British Medical Association who have been forced into taking industrial action against the government.
The doctor, Jeanna Strutinsky-Mason, pointed out that “a lot of our contract issues are very similar to your own issues.” She made it clear that in order to win in the fight for justice, all workers need “to stand together,” and suggested that in Leicester, “joint demonstrations” might be organised in the future between doctors and Samworth employees.
