Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1144/32899
From The Socialist newspaper, 11 August 2021
Unions protest at exploitative Leicester company Food Attraction
(Click to enlarge)
Heather Rawling, Leicester Socialist Party
Leicester is in danger of being named the sweatshop capital of the UK. BooHoo hit the headlines last year for using Leicester suppliers that paid their workers around £4 an hour, way below the current £8.91 minimum wage.
On 5 August, the BFAWU union exposed another company for extreme exploitation of its workforce. Food Attraction Ltd, it is alleged, has a bullying culture where workers are given contracts for only four hours' work a day, but often forced to work 60 hours a week without overtime pay. They worked throughout the pandemic, classed as key workers, but received only minimum statutory sick pay. One worker was sacked by email because he spoke out against the conditions.
The factory is on an industrial estate, only a stone's throw away from SPS Technologies whose workers struck earlier this year against 'fire and rehire'. The BFAWU has members inside the factory but the company is refusing to recognise the union. But they do seem rattled. When protesters arrived at the factory, company signs had been taken down and there were hardly any workers inside the factory.
There was no sign of the company directors' cars inside the car park. The BFAWU intends to protest outside companies that are supplied by Food Attraction. These include Sainsbury's, Coop and UK airports with Virgin Atlantic flights to India.
We brought solidarity messages from the Socialist Party and the National Shop Stewards Network.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 11 August 2021:
NHS
Defend the NHS. Fight the Tory pay insult. Prepare strike action!
NHS: Kick out the privatisers, Fight for funding, Build for strike action
News
Tory government nationalises Sheffield steel plant
Tory cuts worsened crime and Johnson 'blitz' won't help
Thanks to the miners - an example of workers' struggle and solidarity
Comment
Olympic 'success' masks cuts and inequality in sport
Campaigns news
Capitalism = climate catastrophe
Rising against a rigged and rotten system - Socialism 2021
London Pride cancelled - pandemic shows protest Pride is necessary
London: Hundreds protest for trans rights
Save Newham's theatres from Labour council cuts!
Socialist Party young members summer school
A day in the life of a young hospitality worker
West Midlands: austerity and capitalism offers no future for young people
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Don't privatise Dudley libraries
Socialist Party: Solely funded by the working class
Review - The Struggle for World Socialism
Housing
Waltham Forest: Fighting for a home for Nadia and homes for all
History
August 1991 - The aborted military coup in the 'Soviet Union'
Workplace news
Ballot majority essential to continue DVLA strike action
Night tube strike suspended to allow talks - scrap compulsory duties!
RMT strike solid on East Midlands rail
You need a union when the time comes to fight
Unions protest at exploitative Leicester company Food Attraction
Over 3,000 votes for fighting socialist programme in CWU
International news
Beirut's devastating port explosion one year on
Home | The Socialist 11 August 2021 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2021