Michelle Byrne – Usdaw area organiser says: “We are appalled that Tetrosyl is engaging in immoral ‘fire and rehire’ tactics and it is deeply regrettable that the company’s refusal to withdraw their new contract has forced us into holding an industrial action ballot. The new contract results in warehouse staff pay being reduced by between £4,000 and £7,000 per year, due to the removal of a shift supplement and paid breaks.
“This ballot follows the recent one-to-one consultations where Tetrosyl informed our members that if they did not agree to the reduced contractual terms, they would have their current contract terminated and be re-engaged on the new reduced terms. Usdaw views the new terms in their current form as totally unacceptable, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting members and the continuing contribution they make to the success of the business.
“Fire and rehire is a Victorian-style practice and the Government has brought forward measures as part of the Employment Rights Bill to prevent employers from using it to downgrade terms and conditions of employment. Usdaw continues to work with the Government to deliver the new deal for workers in full; to improve rights and make jobs more secure and better paid with fairer employment standards. It is only right that good employers are not undercut by those who seek to exploit workers.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion