As I mentioned with the Carphone Warehouse taking anti-union measures, and don’t forget that includes the popular Talk Talk brand – free broadband has workforce costs – I’ve came across a few other brands to be wary of.
Kettle Foods, an american company based in Oregon, USA, employed a UK union-busting company at its Norwich UK plant. Kettle Foods, makers of Kettle Chips, denies attempting to dissuade workers from joining the Unite union. It freely admitted receiving advice from the UK subsiduary of The Burke Group – a rather venomous anti-union consultant group. Why one earth anyone would want to work for a company which helps your employer to deny you your rights is beyond me.
Remember, when we buy kettle chips, we’re endorsing that Kettle Foods consults on avoiding dealing with trade unions to give us better conditions at work.
The United States Employee Free Choice Act
President Obama is trying to give Unions a chance in the USA. Membership is low, at 13%, and union-busting is at an all time high. The Employee Free Choice Act was supported by Senator Obama, and it’s still supported by President Obama.
We can help – ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1896, which reads:
UNION RIGHTS IN THE US15.07.2009Cruddas, JonThat this House notes that the US has not yet ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 or 98 on freedom of association and free collective bargaining, and that harassment of workers trying to form trade unions is widespread and leads to 30,000 sackings every year; believes that the Employee Free Choice Act currently before Congress would give US workers the choice about whether to belong to a trade union which can collectively bargain with their employers; and calls on UK companies operating in the US publicly to support the Employee Free Choice Act and on hon. Members’ colleagues in Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act without delay.
Which other companies have employed Union Busting techniques?
Before The Burke Group password-protected their client list, it included:
- Virgin Atlantic
- Amazon
- T-Mobile
- Calor Gas
Spend your money wisely to help your fellow humans to better their lives. Don’t spend it to help large corporations get fatter.
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