2 Sisters' food firm workers balloted on shifts
Workers at a food company are being balloted over controversial plans to change the shifts of 1,500 staff at its four Black Country factories to a seven-day working week.
Members of union Unite claim they have been told that the future of the 2 Sisters' four plants in Smethwick, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton, could be under threat if they don't agree to the controversial moves, which would see staff work five days out of seven.
Unite regional officer Des Quinn said: "They have told us that this is the only option available and if we don't agree to it they will shut all four sites.
"A couple of months back the company told us it had a deteriorating financial performance at the West Midlands factories and had to make changes to shift arrangement and if they couldn't get them would close the sites."
But Birmingham-headquartered 2 Sisters spokesman Andrew Hanson said the group refuted there had been any threat to the factories – two at Alpha Business Park in Smethwick; Dial Lane, West Bromwich and Lincoln Street, Wolverhampton.
"This is about giving the sites a longer term future, but we need the workforce to come with us. There has never been a threat to close the factories."
Mr Hanson said 2 Sisters had won new business from supermarkets over the past 18 months. The group said in March that 500 jobs would be created in the Black Country as a result of the surge in orders.
"To meet the new demand we need to move from five-day working with overtime to operating on a seven-day basis.
"Any company working for the supermarkets has to be competitive on pricing and quality," added Mr Hanson. Mr Quinn said members were being balloted on the change allied to a 20p-an-hour pay increase from August 1 with all days except Christmas Day, normal working days and no time off in lieu for bank holidays.
The union hopes to complete the ballots and counting on Friday.
