UK: Greencore loses employment tribunal
By Michelle Russell | 19 November 2012
 |
In July, Greencore "strongly” refuted any suggestion that it had “contravened employment law" |
Irish convenience food group Greencore has lost an employment tribunal, which has awarded workers in the UK up to GBP1.2m (US$1.9m) in compensation.
UK union Unite said it had won a tribunal on behalf of 400 employees in a dispute over pay and conditions.
The dispute dates back to 2010, at which time the workers agreed to temporarily suspend premium pay rates and enhanced holiday pay rates from June that year to October 2011 in order to "help the company during difficult trading conditions".
However, the union said Greencore "refused to revert back to the workers' original terms of employment after the deadline had past".
As a result, the workers raised a group action for "the unlawful deduction of wages", accusing Greencore of "impoverishing its workers by refusing to reinstate the payments when the majority were on the national minimum wage".
In July, Greencore "strongly" refuted any suggestion it had "contravened employment law at any stage during the course of this process".
Unite national officer Jennie Formby said it was "great news" Greencore workers had "got justice".
"This situation could have been avoided, if Greencore had listened to the union and adhered to some basic ethical principles," Formby said.
"Unite was not going to allow Greencore to break the law, attack union rights and the terms and conditions of the lowest paid workers in society. Many of these workers had to survive on poverty wages since management changed the terms, then broke their promise even though the Greencore Group is extremely profitable."
Formby, however, said its members are now discussing steps to "restore fairness to the contracts of employment that were unilaterally and unfairly changed by Greencore after Unite pledged to mount this legal challenge".
Greencore did not return a request for comment at the time of going to press.
Sectors: Bakery, Chilled foods, Private label, Snacks
Companies: Greencore
View next/previous articles
19 Nov 2012 -
19 Nov 2012 -
Currently reading -
UK: Greencore loses employment tribunal
19 Nov 2012 -
Related research
Greencore Group plc (GCG) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review
Greencore Group plc (Greencore) is a food manufacturing company. The company carries out the manufacturing and supply of convenience foods and ingredients. It offers meal and snack solutions including chilled meals, sandwiches, pizzas, chilled sauces...
Ready Meals in the United Kingdom
Ready Meals in the United Kingdom industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2007-11, and forecast to 2016). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players includin...
Chilled & Deli Food in Europe industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market share, market size (value and volume 2007-11, and forecast to 2016). The profile also contains descriptions of the lea...
Related articles
IRELAND: Greencore COO Walker to leave
Greencore COO Di Walker is to leave the convenience food giant later this month - and the company has decided not to replace her.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
Dairy featured heavily in our headlines last week. We interviewed Fonterra's CFO about the New Zealand giant's half-year results and plans for emerging markets. Swiss peer Emmi published its annual figures and we spoke to its international boss about its plans outside its domestic market. Meanwhile, in the UK, Greek yoghurt producer Fage won its court battle with rival Chobani over how the US firm labels its products here.
US: Greencore drives US growth with capacity expansion
Greencore has announced plans to expand production in the US as it looks to step up growth in the market.
There are currently no comments on this article
Be the first to comment on this article