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Unite for her4/30/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() In fact the trade union movement is being reborn. The government might make all sorts of threats trying to bully the unions but we’re not going away. Where our members take industrial action I’ll back them all the way. “As we have proved where workers unite and take action we can fight and win - like in the East Midlands, in the last year. We won’t let the cost of living crisis take its toll on workers when bosses can afford to pay more. Today Sharon Graham will say “Unite is 100 per cent behind workers across the East Midlands in their battle for fair pay. Almost 200 union activists from across the East Midlands will attend the summit in Leicester, including activists from Rolls Royce, Toyota, Nottingham City Council, Siemens, Stagecoach, DHL and E.on UK Plc. The days of the union waiting on Westminster for the salvation of workers’ problems are over. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, will tell leading Unite reps from across the East Midlands that Unite is now completely focused on the fight for jobs, pay and conditions. This morning (Wednesday 1 March) 200 leading Unite activists will gather in Leicester These workers deserve better.Embargoed until 00.01 Wednesday 1 March 2023 Unite leader, Sharon Graham, calls East Midlands summit to plan next phase of the jobs, pay and conditions battle ![]() My members stand determined to win a cost of living pay improvement – what is on offer is nothing short of an insult. Management have it within their power to avoid this unnecessary outcome. A strike by our members will shutdown production at Hovis’ Belfast production site and is likely to hugely impact the availability of Bread on supermarket shelves across Northern Ireland. “It is still not too late for management to address our members’ pay claim and avoid this strike action. A ballot of more than 95 percent for strike action should surely force some reconsideration by management. “In repeated strikes over the last few years, the Hovis workforce has repeatedly demonstrated their willingness and determination to secure improvements to their pay and conditions. Regional Officer for the workforce, Sean McKeever, issued a last-minute call for management to address the workers’ pay claim and avoid an unnecessary strike. The workforce in Hovis know that Unite has their back as they seek to win a cost of living increase from their employer.” “Unite has established a £70 million strike fund which we are deploying to back workers in struggle. The company can well afford to increase the pay of these workers to provide some protection from the surge in inflation. The group posted pre-tax profits of almost £50 million in 2021 and is a well-funded business with a strong balance sheet. “Hovis has enjoyed huge success during the Covid pandemic and in the period following it. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham expressed her union’s support for the Hovis workers as they prepare to take strike action: The company has managed to maintain profitability throughout and its profits for 2021 have been boosted through what they deemed a ‘bargain purchase’ of assets which raised the group’s headline (pre-tax) profits for the 14 months to the end of 2021 to £47.3 million. Turnover rose 8 percent in 2020 and rose marginally further in 2021 to £361.2 million. While workers have watched their disposable incomes collapse with the surge in inflation, Hovis has enjoyed bumper sales during the Covid pandemic and in its aftermath. Unite has notified the employer that continuous (that is all-out) strike action will commence this Sunday 5 th March with strike pickets going up at the Bakery at 6am that morning. Workers of Unite the union have voted by a margin of more than 95 percent for strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase at Hovis, the leading Belfast Bakery. Union warns strike is likely to impact bread supplies on shelves across Northern Ireland Unite confirms all out strike action will commence at Belfast Bakery from 6am on Sunday 5 th March ![]()
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