Daniel Adams - Usdaw National Officer says: “I have written to the company expressing our significant concerns about their approach. Our members have already told Usdaw reps of their hurt and anger at this threat to “fire and rehire” ahead of any discussions with the union about the company’s proposals to change terms and conditions.

“It is our view that to issue threats before we have even met is both unnecessarily confrontational and brings into question how meaningful these discussions can be.  This is particularly disappointing given previously good industrial relations between Usdaw and BCM. So we are looking to the company to remove their ‘fire and rehire’ threat to allow full and meaningful discussions to take place.  Unfortunately, if they refuse we will have no choice other than to explore holding a consultative industrial action ballot.

“Employees at BCM Fareva have worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic and it is alarming that their jobs are being threatened if they don’t accept brutal cuts in terms and conditions. Earlier this year we settled a long-running pay dispute, after staff rejected a wage freeze. We are deeply disappointed that the company is again undermining our members.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion