Pilgrim’s Protest

An escalating industrial dispute at a food producer in Enniskillen is threatening to impact the supply of some leading UK brands as workers strike over poverty pay.

Unite represents approximately 130 workers employed by Pilgrims Europe at its production facility in County Fermanagh. 

Workers started all out strike action on Wednesday 2 September, a sharp escalation of the industrial dispute, which followed three weeks of strikes. 

Workers are seeking a decent pay increase and an end to the current regime where morning shift workers are the only shift workers not getting fully paid breaks. The lowest paid workers receive an hourly rate of £12.82 – only eleven pence above the minimum wage. Pilgrims Europe’s latest reported after-tax profit was £128 million.

Unite regional officer Greg O’Kane said, “Management intransigence has left workers with no alternative but to escalate the strike. Strikes have already heavily impacted production and stocks.

“Pilgrims’ management needs to act now to end this dispute and avoid the risk of empty shelves just when schools are returning and demand for these products surges.”

The site produces a range of leading UK and Irish food brands including Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages, Mr Brains Pork Faggots, Denny sausages, Rollover sausages and vegan sausages. 

Fridge raiders are one of the most successful Pilgrims products and are targeted at lunchboxes and for younger consumers.

Unite Ireland Regional Secretary, Susan Fitzgerald, visited striking workers on the Pilgrim’s picket line this week saying, “I’m here today with Unite members, Pilgrim’s Food strikers who are entering their fifth week of action. “This is a company with post-tax profits of 128 million pounds, yet they have the neck to tell our members they have no money in the kitty for decent pay, respect and dignity, including full paid breaks. 

“This strike is going to continue until this company sees sense. Our members know they have the full backing of our entire trade union, our general secretary, Sharon Graham, and we’re going nowhere until this compact sits down, talks and we reach a resolution that our members are happy with.”

Meanwhile Unite released the results of a survey of members that confirmed the huge pressure the cost of living crisis is placing on workers, and that some are on the breadline due to poverty wages, with some workers paid as little as £12.82 an hour.

The survey revealed a staggering 81 per cent had cut back on food as a result of financial pressures. 79 per cent said they worked overtime to make ends meet and 15 per cent worked a second (or in one case a third job to get by.

Money is so tight that 39 per cent of workers have reported having to borrow from a bank or credit union, 22 per cent from friends and family and three per cent had borrowed from a loan shark.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The results of this survey are appalling. This is a cruel irony that workers in a food factory can’t afford to feed their families. Any decent employer would ensure this grave injustice didn’t continue, this is a highly profitable company that is choosing to line its pockets while its workers go hungry.

“Unite will back our members at Pilgrims all the way in their battle for a fair pay increase.”

Pilgrims Europe’s latest published accounts show an after-tax profit of £128 million.

To keep up to date on the dispute at Pilgrim’s keep tuned to Unite Live.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Emma Dougal