Global support for Pilgrim’s workers

Participants attending the IUF Food and Beverage Conference in Geneva demonstrated their support for Unite members currently on strike at Pilgrims yesterday (23 Sept).

At the two day event in Switzerland the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations) called for fair pay for workers at Pilgrim’s Europe and said that “Workers deserve fair pay. Workers deserve respect.”

The IUF Food and Beverage Conference hosted 145 representatives from 56 IUF affiliates across 40 countries, but they had one united message “Fair Pay Now for   Pilgrim’s workers”, and during a session at the conference delegates from across the world stood in solidarity with the Enniskillen workers holding banners supporting their fight against low wages.

Unite reps attending the conference on behalf of members, including those at Pilgrims, were Pete Taylor, Diane Morley, Lee Marsden and Roger King . They were joined by Unite national officer for Food, Drink & Agriculture who welcomed the show of international solidarity.

Paul said, “Today’s support from IUF delegates from all over the world shows the importance of international solidarity and how workers across the globe stand together against low pay and bad bosses.

“Unite the unions National Industrial Sector Committee fully supports our members employed at the Pilgrims Enniskillen site.

“Their struggle for a fair pay offer is one we all share, and we call upon the company to sit down and reach a deal that our members will accept.”

Unite represents approximately 130 workers employed by Pilgrims Europe at its production facility in County Fermanagh, and workers started all out strike action on Wednesday 2 September, a sharp escalation of the industrial dispute, which followed three weeks of strikes. 

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

Unite has also formally complained to the department of economy’s employment agency inspectorate over Pilgrim Europe’s illegal use of agency workers during the strike at the company’s Enniskillen factory. 

Unite has also raised concerns about safety issues around Pilgrims production during the dispute and written to the Health and Safety Executive NI asking them to investigate.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by IUF