A strike by members of the bakers’ workers union, the BFAWU, has compelled Premier Foods at its Wigan Hovis factory to agree to limit the company’s use of agency workers on zero hour contracts. Such action in a low-paid, unskilled sector could set a precedent. (Ref. 130564)
Agency workers on these contracts were first introduced earlier this year after job and pay cuts. They were initially used to cover staff holidays and sickness absence but then were increasingly were used as regular staff.
Premier Foods averted a third week of strike action by agreeing to pay agency staff which work at least 39 hours a week for 12 consecutive weeks at the same level as full-time employees, and ensuring temporary labour shortages will be covered by existing employees using overtime (rather than agency staff on zero hour contracts).
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