Unite takes Oscar Mayer campaign to Bournemouth

A protest was held outside the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum meeting in Bournemouth yesterday (4 December) calling on councils to divest from Pemberton Asset Management over its role in firing and rehiring Oscar Mayer ready meal workers.

Unite activists were joined by members of the Unite Tolpuddle Branch outside the Hotel where the forum was being held, speaking to delegates as they arrived.

Unite Tolpuddle Branch Chair, John Burbidge bring solidarity with Oscar Mayer workers

The response from delegates was very positive as they listened to the Unite explain how badly Oscar Mayer workers in Wrexham were being treated.

Unite Organiser Leigh Williams said; “We were able to talk to lots of Councillors telling them not to invest any pension funds in Pemberton. The councillors were very supportive, especially Chair of the forum Doug McMurdo who was happy to have his picture taken with the banner.”

Unite campaigners with Doug McMurdo, Chair of Local Authority Pension Fund Forum

This is just the latest part of the Unite campaign calling on council pension funds to say “No more funding for union busting!”

Last week, Clwyd Pension Fund, which looks after retired officers and councillors from Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, pledged not to invest anymore in Pemberton after discovering that £5.6 million of member funds were indirectly invested in the business.

Six other Welsh pension funds have investments tied to Pemberton, as do many other local authority funds across the UK.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Councils up and down the country will be furious that their pension funds are supporting a company that is prepared to use the most abhorrent employment practices towards its workers.

“Pemberton Asset Management is doing its reputation and business relationships irreparable damage by trying to fire and rehire Oscar Mayer’s workers. Unite will not stop fighting until these horrific plans are scrapped.”

Supporting the action and bringing solidarity from the food, drink and agriculture sector in Dorset was John Burbidge, chair of the Unite Tolpuddle branch. 

John said: “Fire and rehire is fundamentally wrong, and the government has said it will put a stop to the practice, but it hasn’t done so yet.

“Oscar Mayer should respect the people who work for them, instead of trying to cut wages to make cheaper produce for supermarkets. The Tolpuddle Branch is fully behind their struggle and hopes that local authority pension providers will listen to them today.”

Around 600 Oscar Mayer workers, who make up the vast majority of the Wrexham factory’s workforce, have been striking since September over the company’s plans to fire and rehire them to slash pay by up to £3,000 a year.

Pemberton Asset Management owns 85 percent of Oscar Mayer, which supplies large quantities of its ready meal products to Tesco, ASDA, Greggs, Aldi, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.

By Keith Hatch