Grampian Country Food Group (GCFG) based in Aberdeen are no strangers to the pages of Socialist Appeal. Their bully-boy antics and reputation for low pay are legendary. The UK wide multi-million £ company who supply meat and poultry to practically every supermarket oulet in Britain treat their workers with contempt. The latest despicable move by GCFG has forced the workforce of 2,000 to take strike action next Thursday, 5th April and a 24-hour strike.
After utilising every underhand method imagineable in the past period, including a pay freeze, bosses decided to push the patience of the workers to breaking point by planning to impose new contracts, changes to benefit and pension plans and the use of Agency staff.
The workers, members of the T&G union, will now lose wages as they take a stand against aggressive, unwarranted actions by GCFG scrooge bosses. The vast majority of the workforce are either on the minimum wage or slightly above and are forced to top-up their low pay with means-tested benefits. GCFG clearly want to avoid being a responsible employer and their attempt to introduce measures like using Agency staff would allow them to avoid paying sick pay, holiday pay and annual leave. In spite of the workforce showing willingness and considerable tolerance with their bosses over a protracted period, the company stalled on negotiations with the union and have now repaid their employees with vindictive and negative actions due to their incompetence and contempt – a feature favoured by many employers in today's workplaces.
The T&G said protests by striking workers could involve picketing outside selected stores where the company's produce is sold.
