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Claims summer holidays at JDE brought into dispute
22/04/2021
Union says reports have sparked outrage
Summer holidays for staff at Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) in Banbury are being put under threat by the company due to the impending industrial action, according to the Unite Union. The claim was made yesterday, just ahead of today’s proposed talks between the union and the company over the so called ‘fire and rehire’ arrangements.
Unite says it understands that management have sent a letter to staff setting out conditions for applications for leave which may not be accepted if production is at risk. They say that reports claiming that bosses will stop workers from taking summer holidays to thwart an overtime ban has sparked outrage.
However JDE says that it is common practice for companies to share clear ways of working during any period of industrial action. They say it is their legal right to protect the business.
The company disputes the point about their refusal to allow holiday applications. They say holiday requests can still be submitted but will need to be approved by the function leader. All holiday requests have always required a notification and approval process. However, they add that some holiday requests may not be able to be approved depending on the impact they will have on the business.
An overtime ban by union members at JDE will begin on May 1. This follows Unite members voting by an 87 per cent majority to strike over the decision by the Dutch-owned company to issue notice of dismissal and engagement for 291 employees. The union says that strike action is expected from June, if the overtime ban throughout May does not bring a resolution to the dispute.
Unite national officer for the food industry Joe Clarke said: “The management at JDE is beginning to panic about production schedules by attempting to undermine the overtime ban by stopping workers taking their summer holidays.
“It is a deliberate and underhand ploy to undermine legitimate trade union industrial action and has sparked real outrage amongst our members.
“There is also the issue of parents who will be worried sick about how they are going to care for their children during the long school holidays. JDE is acting like an employer from Victorian times, refusing to see their employees as people beyond the factory gates, with wider responsibilities and families that need them.”
JDE say they continue to ask the union to constructively participate in the process and have asked the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to support them in reaching an agreement that benefits both their associates and the business.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam