Unite Challenges Tesco CEO Terry Leahy at AGM

By Prne, Gaea News Network
Thursday, July 2, 2009

LONDON - Today (3rd July), Jack Dromey, Unite’s Deputy General Secretary, will issue a challenge to CEO Terry Leahy at Tesco’s AGM to personally meet with workers employed at companies that supply meat to Tesco.

In a first for a British trade union, Unite the union will table a resolution at Tesco’s AGM. The resolution calls for action to end the exploitation and discrimination of workers employed by companies in the UK and Ireland that supply meat to Tesco.

From the floor of the AGM Mr Dromey will ask Terry Leahy if he will personally meet with workers employed at companies that supply meat to Tesco Stores.

Jack Dromey will say: “Will Terry Leahy personally meet with workers employed at companies that supply meat to Tesco to hear first hand how some workers are experiencing harsh and divisive conditions that in some cases are abusive?”

Mr Dromey will also ask Mr Leahy if he is prepared to work with Unite to end what the union believes is discrimination in many parts of the supply chain that provides meat to Tesco with agency workers, overwhelmingly migrant, on poorer conditions of employment, undercutting indigenous workers. That divides workplaces, Unite says, and damages community social cohesion.

Unite protestors are out in full force outside the AGM in Glasgow, brandishing flags and placards to ensure shareholders hear the voice of workers employed by companies which supply meat to Tesco stores. Unite members with shares in Tesco will also question Terry Leahy from the floor of the AGM.

As an indication of the seriousness of Unite’s claims, the powerful Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is conducting its first statutory inquiry into the UK’s multi-billion pound meat industry in England and Wales for evidence of employment abuse and discrimination.

Source: Unite the Union

For further information contact and to arrange interviews with Deputy General Secretary, Jack Dromey on the day contact: Shaun Noble on +44(0)7768-693-940 or Ciaran Naidoo on +44(0)7768-931-315

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