| Unions have called for a “massive show of strength” in support of Hovis bakery workers in Wigan after clashes with police outside their strike-bound factory in which three people were arrested in the early hours of yesterday (16 September). The protest came as BFAWU members began the second of three weeks of strike action over what they say is the abuse of “zero hours” contracts by the company. Police said around 80 protestors had been taking part in a pre-dawn protest at the site on Monday. A number of them blocked the road to prevent lorries from leaving. Video posted on Facebook by supporters shows how one truck – escorted by police officers – took 40 minutes to travel just over 500 metres. Union sources say one female protester was thrown across the road onto her back as police tried to clear the road. Two people were arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway while a third was arrested for a public order offence. One of the three is a local Unite organiser. Chief Inspector Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police, who is based at Wigan, said: “This was a proportionate police response to quite a sizeable demonstration. “A small number of people did commit offences so, as anyone would expect, we had to take direct action to ensure it passed off peacefully.” Unions believe the Hovis workers strike is a key battle in a national campaign against “zero hours” contracts. It is the first industrial action of its kind since figures released last month estimated that as many as 1m people were working on what critics have described as “zero rights” contracts. These conditions do not guarantee any hours of work, but require a worker to be available as and when required. Premier Foods, which owns the Wigan site, has already cut pay rates for dozens of staff, as a result of a decision last year to close two bakery plants in Birmingham and London. BFAWU says pay rates for some workers have fallen from around £13.00 per hour to £8.60 per hour. Wigan MP Lisa Nandy – who has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament in support of the strikers – said the workers at Hovis believe zero hours contracts are only a symptom of growing casualisation of the workforce. She said: “The Hovis employees are right to take a stand against the introduction of zero-hours contracts into their workplace. “These contracts can play havoc with people’s lives, disrupting their ability to plan their lives or budget properly. “I met Hovis workers on the picket line recently and I am convinced that they did not take strike action lightly, but their actions have helped to highlight this disturbing employment trend across Wigan and the country.” She said she had been inundated with messages of support from people across the country since tabling the EDM at Westminster and called for Hovis Management to enter talks with BFAWU to try to resolve the dispute. BFAWU officials say staff at the Wigan bakery had already reduced their hours and their pay to try to reduce the need for redundancies. However, after “protracted” negotiations, the company decided to proceed with job losses, only to renege on an agreement by attempting to make up the ensuing staff shortfall with agency labour.This included many workers being given shifts on an ‘as and when’ basis. BFAWU says the company has refused to negotiate a settlement on its use of agency workers in the future. Local unions have called on supporters to join pickets outside the factory gates from 2am tomorrow. - See more at: http://union-news.co.uk/2013/09/unions-call-for-solidarity-protest-after-police-clash-with-hovis-zero-hours-strikers/#sthash.9wRXYV6l.dpuf |