The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 requires that: “an employment business shall not introduce or supply a work-seeker to a hirer to perform the duties normally performed by a worker who is taking part in a strike or other industrial action.”
Usdaw members voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a dispute over the company’s use of ‘fire and hire’ to reduce terms and conditions for staff at their Rochdale site. Four dates for industrial action in December were announced: Today (Monday 15th), Wednesday 17th, Friday 19th and Monday 22nd.
Michelle Byrne – Usdaw area organiser says: “It is shocking that Tetrosyl has responded to an emphatic vote for industrial action by seeking to break the law. The company should have taken on board the strength of feeling among their staff and withdrawn their new contract. Slashing terms and conditions through immoral ‘fire and rehire’ tactics is bad enough, but illegally undermining a lawful strike is beyond the pale.
“The company could have stopped today’s industrial action going ahead by responding positively and we urge them to engage to avert further stoppages. We have written to Tetrosyl and Ideal Recruitment calling on them not to use unlawful practices and we reserve our right to take a legal claim against either or both of them if they do not comply.
“As it stands, warehouse staff are set to lose between £4,000 and £7,000 per year, due to the removal of terms such as a shift supplement and paid breaks. 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.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions and the UK's fifth biggest, 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