What is being debated?
Follow the debate here, in Parliament, with government and here and in a farmer's blog
There was a call for compensation of workers at Bernard Matthews. Is it being discussed?
Friday 30 March 2007
BERNARD MATTHEWS REVEALS NEW BBQ DINING RANGE
Bernard Matthews Food Service has revealed a host of ideas for barbecues, including new turkey breast steaks, turkey medallions and, for kebabs, diced turkey breast from the company’s ingredients range. In meatinfo.co.uk
Wednesday 28 March 2007
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS?
Staff are entitled to make a claim for redundancy four weeks after being laid off, but few have done so as most have been with the company for less than two years and will receive no redundancy payments. Reports the local paper
BERNARD MATTHEWS LAYS OFF YET MORE WORKERS
A further 35 workers are due to be laid off . Reports the BBC
This brings the total number of staff laid off to 270. In meatinfo.co.uk
This brings the total number of staff laid off to 270. In meatinfo.co.uk
Tuesday 27 March 2007
TRADE UNION BRITISH-PORTUGUESE COOPERATION
Union organisation and representation is also vital – at a pan-European level. Cross-border co-operation isn’t wholly new (many unions operatein Britain and Ireland, for example) but it is becoming more common. This year, shipping officers’ union Numast began to merge with its Dutch equivalent to form Nautilus. The TUC has a long-standing agreement with the CGTP-IN in Portugal to represent Portuguese workers in Britain, renewed in April this year. Says Owen Tudor International Secretary, TUC
TUC COOPERATION WITH PORTUGUESE WORKER'S ASSOCIATION
Supporting trade union organisation in the underbelly of the British economy, if need be in innovative forms, is an essential weapon in the struggle against trafficking. The TUC's cooperation in Britain with the Portuguese Workers' Association and Federation of Poles in Britain and the bilateral agreements with their respective national trade unions have demonstrated that such approaches can yield real benefits for workers, not just in promoting their organisation in British trade unions while they are working in Britain, but also warning them in their home countries of the recruitment activities of unscrupulous labour suppliers there. Such trade union activity is resource intensive and Government support for the development of similar approaches with trade union organisations in other sending countries would be welcomed. TUC evidence to Parliament
PORTUGUESE WORKERS: STATS UK
More than 20000 Portuguese workers are employed in agriculture, cleaning and the hospitality industry
PORTUGUESE WORKING IN SHEFFIELD
It is a well known fact that workers from many parts of Europe, particularly Portugal, and we have had many Portuguese workers over here who are exploited right to the hilt. Many of them are not prepared to tell us of the terms and conditions that have been imposed upon them until they have fallen foul of their employers over here. And then in a moment of pique they reveal everything that has been happening, the kind of earnings that they have been getting, and the fact that in terms of what they were paid to work in this Country they were seriously undermining our terms and conditions. This is the point that we have got to take on board. Sheffield Trades Union Council Delegate Meeting
THE PORTUGUESE WORKERS PROJECT - TRABALHADORES PORTUGUESES EM INGLATERRA
As a result of the protocol between the TUC - the British Trade Union Congress - and CGTP - the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers - the Portuguese Workers project is a source of immediate support for working people in the UK
TUC-CGTP PORTUGUESE WORKERS’ PROJECT
For Portuguese Speakers TUC - (Portuguese Workers’ Project) Tel: 0207 467 1256 (to leave a message) E-mail: ctp@tuc.org.uk
TUC Portuguese Workers’ Project, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B3LS
TUC Portuguese Workers’ Project, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B3LS
Monday 26 March 2007
THE MOVEMENT IN BRISTOL TO ABOLISH SLAVE TRADE
"The absence of conflict is not evidence of the presence of peace." The report of Marvin Rees from Bristol
FEMINIZATION OF WORKING POVERTY
More women then ever before are in work, but a persistent gap in status, job security, wages and education between women and men is contributing to the "feminization of working poverty", according to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO): Global Employment Trends for Women Brief - 2007
THE REPORT OF THE WORLD COMMISSION
There is an urgent need to rethink current institutions of global economic governance, whose rules and policies it says are largely shaped by powerful countries and powerful players. The unfairness of key rules of trade and finance reflect a serious "democratic deficit" at the heart of the system. The failure of policies, it argues, is due to the fact that market-opening measures and financial and economic considerations have consistently predominated over social ones, including measures compatible with the prerogatives of international human rights law and the principles of international solidarity. Says the Report of the World Commission on the Social dimension of Globalization
FORCED LABOUR: DECEPTION OR FALSE PROMISES ABOUT TYPES AND TERMS OF WORK
The International Labour Organization - ILO- defines deception or false promises about types and terms of work as being forced labour
FORCED LABOUR IN EUROPE
EuropeTrafficking appears to be the main route into forced labour in Europe. While much of the attention has been focused on victims of sexual exploitation, there is growing evidence that many are being trafficked for forced labour in agriculture, domestic service, construction work and sweatshops. Victims of forced labour in Europe come mainly from Asia, former Soviet republics, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Go to the European Industrial Relations Observatory
Go to the European Industrial Relations Observatory
THE WORLD OF MODERN CHILD SLAVERY
When it is mentioned we tend to think of people, almost always black people; degraded, abused and bound in chains, and we tend to think of such images, and the word slavery itself, as belonging to another era.
We do not see slavery as belonging to our world, not as something which is still happening today.
Reports Rageh Omar
We do not see slavery as belonging to our world, not as something which is still happening today.
Reports Rageh Omar
TOMATO PICKING IN NORTH AMERICA
Guadalupe Gonzalez, 37, is one of the thousands of mainly-Hispanic migrants who work as tomato-pickers in the fields of Immokalee, southern Florida.
Friday 16 March 2007
TIGHTER SANCTIONS FOR BREACHING HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS
Following events at Bernard Matthews Hungary legislates. At cee-foodindustry.com
Wednesday 14 March 2007
LIDL SUPERMARKETS AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE
"Ver.di, a huge German trade union with 2.5 million members, published a book called Das Schwarz-Buch Lidl Europa (The Black Book on Lidl in Europe). This was based on more than 3,500 accounts submitted by past and present employees. An updated 144-page English translation came out last year, detailing complaints from some of Lidl's 170,000-plus staff working in 23 European countries". Read the newspaper
EMPLOYMENT IN EAST ANGLIA AND BERNARD MATTHEWS
“There have been quite a few redundancies in the area recently, including the huge job loses at the Bernard Matthews factory, which has impacted upon the local labour market". Says the Manpower's operations manager for East Anglia
Monday 12 March 2007
BIRD FLU MEASURES LIFTED
The last restrictions on the Bernard Matthews plant in Suffolk - the centre of last month's bird flu outbreak - have been lifted. BBC
BERNARD MATTHEWS ADVERT
Reports of the advert
"Some experts though do not understand the plan as many believe that the money should be put towards the workers who are being laid off." reports e-Canada now
"Some experts though do not understand the plan as many believe that the money should be put towards the workers who are being laid off." reports e-Canada now
BRITISH MEPs PUZZLED WITH BERNARD MATTHEWS PLANS AND CONCERNED WITH HUMAN COST TO WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
As reported in Norwish Evening news 24
Richard Howitt MEP said today: “The human cost of these lay-offs is deeply distressing for many families in the county. We need to provide all the help and assistance they need.“It seems shocking it is announcing multi-million pound market plans and receiving about £1m of public funds from Europe for compensation. Workers are being treated in an appalling way.”
Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “This plan seems incongruous to me. I would like to know what this strategy is all about because I cannot understand why the company is doing this when staff are being laid off.”
Richard Howitt MEP said today: “The human cost of these lay-offs is deeply distressing for many families in the county. We need to provide all the help and assistance they need.“It seems shocking it is announcing multi-million pound market plans and receiving about £1m of public funds from Europe for compensation. Workers are being treated in an appalling way.”
Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “This plan seems incongruous to me. I would like to know what this strategy is all about because I cannot understand why the company is doing this when staff are being laid off.”
Friday 9 March 2007
SEVEN WORKERS WENT BACK TO WORK?
The company announced this week it had to temporarily lay off an additional 26 workers following the outbreak and subsequent drop in sales. A total of 183 staff had been temporarily laid off although seven had been re-engaged on March 5, she said.
This week was all launched the one-page advert. BBC
This week was all launched the one-page advert. BBC
BERNARD MATTHEWS: COMPENSATION AND INVESTIGATION
POULTRY giant Bernard Matthews is to receive around £600,000 in compensation for the healthy birds culled following the H5N1 outbreak at its Holton plant last month.
This is despite the fact Defra confirmed this week that the investigation into the outbreak at the site – and whether or not the company was to blame – was still ongoing. Says Farmers Guardian
This is despite the fact Defra confirmed this week that the investigation into the outbreak at the site – and whether or not the company was to blame – was still ongoing. Says Farmers Guardian
WHY DID BERNARD MATTHEWS RECRUIT PORTUGUESE WORKERS?
“We weren’t going to get the people locally . . . young people just don’t see the food industry as sexy.” The Times
WORKING AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
"You can imagine working in that kind of environment on a long-term basis. It must be really quite awful."
The solicitor defending Palmer and Allan, Simon Nicholls, described the conditions in the unit as "appalling". BBC
The solicitor defending Palmer and Allan, Simon Nicholls, described the conditions in the unit as "appalling". BBC
Thursday 8 March 2007
POULTRY PROCESSED IN INFECTED PLANT
A Labour Euro MP said many members of the public would have assumed that the plant had shut down completely during the outbreak and would be surprised by the revelation. ITV news
Hundreds of tons of poultry passed through the Bernard Matthews plant and entered the food chain during the bird flu outbreak, the government has said. . BBC
What did the Secretary of State for Health say?
Also reported at Food Production Daily.com
More reports
Hundreds of tons of poultry passed through the Bernard Matthews plant and entered the food chain during the bird flu outbreak, the government has said. . BBC
What did the Secretary of State for Health say?
Also reported at Food Production Daily.com
More reports
WHAT IS BERNARD MATTHEWS SPENDING £7 MILLION ON?
Farmers Weekly Interactive says that Bernard Matthews plans to spend £7m on a “refreshment plan” and has yet to confirm how much will be allocated for the “recovery plan”.
Wednesday 7 March 2007
DTI: BERNARD MATTHEWS "BEST PRACTICE EMPLOYER"
The systems it now has in place led the DTI to describe Bernard Matthews as "a best practice employer"
NORFOLK NEWS IN PORTUGUESE
“as notÃcias” (The News), a newspaper for Portuguese nationals based in the UK
The “as notÃcias” team consists of an editor and several professional journalists, many of whom are UK correspondents for several different media in Portugal. Its main editorial office will be based in Thetford, with a team of journalists and correspondents located in London and other Portuguese communities.
The newspaper developed from ideas by the Multilingual and European Thetford Association (META), a project managed by Keystone Development Trust, in Thetford. META offers information and advice to Migrant workers based in Norfolk and works with local statutory bodies to encourage community integration. READ ALL ABOUT IT – UK-Portuguese newspaper launched in Thetford, Norfolk
The “as notÃcias” team consists of an editor and several professional journalists, many of whom are UK correspondents for several different media in Portugal. Its main editorial office will be based in Thetford, with a team of journalists and correspondents located in London and other Portuguese communities.
The newspaper developed from ideas by the Multilingual and European Thetford Association (META), a project managed by Keystone Development Trust, in Thetford. META offers information and advice to Migrant workers based in Norfolk and works with local statutory bodies to encourage community integration. READ ALL ABOUT IT – UK-Portuguese newspaper launched in Thetford, Norfolk
HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY ON BERNARD MATTHEWS WORKERS
A small number of workers who are involved in the cleaning and decontamination process are continuing to take antiviral medications. HPA
"NEARLY 200 LAID OFF" AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
nearly 200 people have been laid off since the outbreak of H5N1 strain of the virus at the company's factory in Holton, near Halesworth. Reports the local paper
CGTP INVITED TO THE UK
Support for workers from the Portuguese trade union confederation. In the news
MORE LAYOFFS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS ?
Bernard Matthews, is going to keep 116 portuguese workers in layoff and might layoff more workers. Read the news about CGTP's delegation in the UK
Tuesday 6 March 2007
THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL HAVE JOBS TO RETURN TO
Some 165 staff have been laid off by the company in the past fortnight, mostly from its Great Witchingham units.
Now, a European-funded programme called Response to Redundancy is being put in place to help them with advice, training, CVs and job applications. A task force from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is likely to be set up specifically to deal with the layoffs at Bernard Matthews. Reports the local paper
What will the E. Commission say?
Now, a European-funded programme called Response to Redundancy is being put in place to help them with advice, training, CVs and job applications. A task force from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is likely to be set up specifically to deal with the layoffs at Bernard Matthews. Reports the local paper
What will the E. Commission say?
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
The interim report into the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus shines a light on the horrifying reality of factory farming in Britain.
The investigation has involved officials from the Government's food and farming department Defra, the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
It is understood the MHS warned Bernard Matthews on several occasions about leaving the processing plant waste bins open.
The investigation has involved officials from the Government's food and farming department Defra, the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
It is understood the MHS warned Bernard Matthews on several occasions about leaving the processing plant waste bins open.
BERNARD MATTHEWS CORPORATE LIABILITY
The poultry firm Bernard Matthews could be prosecuted under food safety laws after government inspectors reported a series of biosecurity failings at a plant in Suffolk that saw the UK's first major outbreak of H5N1 bird flu. Times online
BERNARD MATTHEWS AND THE UK EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
6000 companies with Climate Change Agreements. These negotiated agreements between business and Government set energy-related targets. Companies meeting their targets receive an 80% discount from the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the business use of energy. These companies can use the scheme either to buy allowances to meet their targets, or to sell any over-achievement of these targets. Anyone can open an account on the registry to buy and sell allowances.
BERNARD MATTHEWS PRODUCTS AND THE GROWTH IN ORGANIC SALES
"High profile scares such as the avian influenza outbreak, have contributed to consumer confidence levels. The growth in sales of organic, free range and higher welfare food is partly a response to this change in confidence. THE REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE OF GROCERY DISTRIBUTION
MEP RICHARD HOWITT SAID
Labour MEP Richard Howitt said a task force will be set up in a European redundancy initiative to assist the Suffolk workers with re-training and advice. Reports the local paper
BERNARD MATTHEWS: MORE LAY OFFS?
A company spokesperson said: “It is too early say how many more staff will have to be laid off but we are continuing to work with the relevant unions and inform staff of any updates on the situation. Reports the local paper
Saturday 3 March 2007
"THE RENT IS 80 POUNDS A WEEK. HOW CAN WE BUY FOOD?"
Another laid off worker, who asked to be known as Mary, said: “You cannot imagine how hard it is for us. Everyone here needs the money to survive. We have to pay our rent. The rent is £80 a week. How can we buy food? Sometimes we don't have money to pay our bills. I pray. I don't eat steak, I eat bread.“I hope, and everyone hopes, this situation isn't going to go on very long. I hope next week I will have my work back. I hope someone will do something for us.” Reports the local paper
WORKERS ON LAY OFF AT BERNARD MATTHEWS WITHOUT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS AND EAT
Like all the laid off workers, she gets £19.60 a day from the company for the first five days without work, plus a one-off £100, but after that the only money available is state benefits of as little as £57 a week. So far she has been living on her savings, but is down to the last £60.She said: “It is very hard. They have given me lay-off without a time, without knowing whether I will go back or not. I haven't paid my rent. All the money I have is not enough to pay the bills and eat. Reports the local paper
70% OF PEOPLE ON LAY OFF AT BERNARD MATTHEWS ARE PORTUGUESE
Around 70pc of the staff laid off by the turkey giant are Portuguese, and most had come to England specifically to work for Bernard Matthews. Now they are trying to support their families on state benefits of as little as £57 a week. Reports the local paper
Friday 2 March 2007
BRITISH MEP: SUPPORT FOR WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
“It appears derisory. Payments of £19.60 a day for five days doesn't seem a fair reward to committed workers, some of whom volunteered to clean out the Holton plant irrespective of the health risks real or perceived.” Says edp24
Thursday 1 March 2007
THE POULTRY PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
The Role of the Intensive Poultry Production Industry in the
Spread of Avian Influenza, February 2007 Report
Spread of Avian Influenza, February 2007 Report
"DEREGULATED INDUSTRY"
The poultry trade is both the manifestation and driver of globalisation - much like the opium trade before it, says Felicity Lawrence
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR BERNARD MATTHEWS
The Bernard Matthews poultry company is to receive £600,000 compensation for its slaughtered turkeys. Reports Sky News
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