Friday 27 April 2007
Thursday 26 April 2007
Wednesday 25 April 2007
Friday 13 April 2007
AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
A spokesman for the firm said: "Bernard Matthews is dedicated to doing everything possible to restore consumer confidence further and re-engage all laid-off employees as quickly as possible."
What is said to be likely to happen?
What is said to be likely to happen?
Thursday 12 April 2007
MIGRANT WORKERS BUILDING THE ENGLISH ECONOMY
"workers are still frightened to come forward to report poor treatment from employers, as they are afraid of losing their jobs."
"We lived six to eight people in one caravan, with not much space - about half a metre at the end of the bed"
"People would walk through our room to get to the shower, so my friend and I had to push the wardrobe up to the bed to get some privacy,"
"Some even have to hotbed - this is where one worker gets up for a shift and the bed is then occupied by a co-worker who has finished a shift."
"I was known by a number and not my name, as we all were.
"We had to put a sticker with our number on all the trays we packed and that is what the supervisors would call us ... I was known as 137."
"We weren't allowed to talk to each other either. Eating was also a problem, there was no refrigerator and we only had one or two toilets for 100 workers."
Reports the BBC
"We lived six to eight people in one caravan, with not much space - about half a metre at the end of the bed"
"People would walk through our room to get to the shower, so my friend and I had to push the wardrobe up to the bed to get some privacy,"
"Some even have to hotbed - this is where one worker gets up for a shift and the bed is then occupied by a co-worker who has finished a shift."
"I was known by a number and not my name, as we all were.
"We had to put a sticker with our number on all the trays we packed and that is what the supervisors would call us ... I was known as 137."
"We weren't allowed to talk to each other either. Eating was also a problem, there was no refrigerator and we only had one or two toilets for 100 workers."
Reports the BBC
PORTUGUESE WORKERS IN ENGLAND
270 workers laid off
-32 return
-22 leave
=
216 in lay off, reports the BBC
Bernard Matthews goes organic.
-32 return
-22 leave
=
216 in lay off, reports the BBC
Bernard Matthews goes organic.
Thursday 5 April 2007
LIVING IN ENGLAND
Individual Stories from the Project supported by
Birmingham City Archives (BCA)
Black Cultural Archives (BCA)
Bradford Heritage Unit (BHU)
British Library (BL)
Croydon Museum & Heritage Service (CMHS)
Hackney Museum (HM)
Haringey Museum and Archive Service, Bruce Castle Museum (HMA)
Hull City Archives (HCA)
Imperial War Museum (IWM)
Jewish Museum, London (JML)
Lancashire Record Office (LARO)
Leeds Museums & Galleries (LMG)
Liverpool Record Office (LRO)
London Metropolitan Archiv
Birmingham City Archives (BCA)
Black Cultural Archives (BCA)
Bradford Heritage Unit (BHU)
British Library (BL)
Croydon Museum & Heritage Service (CMHS)
Hackney Museum (HM)
Haringey Museum and Archive Service, Bruce Castle Museum (HMA)
Hull City Archives (HCA)
Imperial War Museum (IWM)
Jewish Museum, London (JML)
Lancashire Record Office (LARO)
Leeds Museums & Galleries (LMG)
Liverpool Record Office (LRO)
London Metropolitan Archiv
BENEFITS FOR THE UK ECONOMY
"Migrant workers contribute about £360m a year in tax revenue in the East of England alone". DEFRA
WORKING CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND
"Alex took me to see Mario, who’s 59. He came to Britain with his partner, Yokina, five years ago and has worked for a number of agencies since. Showing me a typical payslip Mario said he
was baffled by a £20 deduction under the heading “advance” and another unexplained debit of £44.75. They helped cut his pay from £400 to little more than £160. But Mario’s problems really began when both he and Yokina fell ill and couldn’t work, so they couldn’t pay their
rent and their agency wasn’t pleased.
He contacted the agency and we explained what was going on, and they said, “well if you’re both sick you have to leave, there’s no more work for you and you have to leave your
accommodation tomorrow.” A few days later three men came, a van driver which we know from the agency because he used to drive us to work and two more men that we’ve never seen them before, they were very big and very threatening and they told me you have to leave this
house immediately.
BBC
WORKING CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND
"It’s difficult work. You have to keep up with machinery, although you’re just human, because there’s a certain target the factory wants to achieve and they don’t care if you’re tired, or if you’ve been working too much. They just want to achieve that target in production. You go home, you’re tired, there’s a lot of people in the house, you don’t have a lot of comfort. So you sleep, you get out of bed at 4 o’clock in the morning you go back to work
In return Alex was paid around £4.70 an hour, only just above the minimum wage, but that was before a host of deductions made by his agency. They sometimes left him with as little as £30 a week in his pocket. Deductions like the cost of transport to and from work, despite Alex says being told in Portugal this was already paid for. The agency also took £50 a week for accommodation, a small room which Alex had to share with two others. But when he found somewhere better to live, Alex says his agency refused to give him any more work". BBC
In return Alex was paid around £4.70 an hour, only just above the minimum wage, but that was before a host of deductions made by his agency. They sometimes left him with as little as £30 a week in his pocket. Deductions like the cost of transport to and from work, despite Alex says being told in Portugal this was already paid for. The agency also took £50 a week for accommodation, a small room which Alex had to share with two others. But when he found somewhere better to live, Alex says his agency refused to give him any more work". BBC
Sebastião Salgado
BERNARD MATTHEWS BUSINESS STRATEGY
"Bernard Matthews plans to overhaul its product and packaging range, adjusting its product portfolio to align itself with the health mega-trend, currently the most important consumer trend. The company hopes the overhaul of its products, to include less salt, and fat and more premium deli style offerings, will counteract the adverse effects of the recent negative publicity surrounding the company." Food Business Review Online
INVESTIGATION INTO BERNARD MATTHEWS
The Food Standards Agency found no evidence. DEFRA will report in the next few weeks. In the Guardian
Wednesday 4 April 2007
MIGRANT WORK IN THE UK
"PricewaterhouseCoopers enters a vigorous debate about whether immigration has a positive impact on the UK economy." In the Guardian Read PWC's report
WORKING IN THE UK
The TUC report on Agency workers produced as a response to the Department of Trade and Industry's consultation into agency workers’ rights, (20 February – 31 May 2007)
WORKERS' RIGHTS IN THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY
"But workers [in the meat and poultry industry] ... contend with conditions, vulnerabilities, and abuses which violate human rights."Blood, Sweat, and Fear. The Human Rights Watch Report and recent legislation
CASE STUDIES. Photos available at Human Rights Watch. More cases here and report on working conditions here
"Working conditions in U.S. meat and poultry plants should trouble the conscience of every American who eats beef, pork or chicken." Says the Washington Post
See the submission to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Committee on Migrant Workers here
Tuesday 3 April 2007
I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW ...
It is not the first time it happens.
I see this as an ongoing argument. Listen to T. Benn
I see this as an ongoing argument. Listen to T. Benn
WORKING IN ITALY
"The migrants who work on Europe's fruit and olive harvests live on meagre wages, forced to survive in conditions that would fail to meet the UN's basic standards for refugee camps. Photographs by Christian Sinibaldi.
Read Felicity Lawrence's report from southern Italy on the dark side of the Christmas orange harvest.
Read Felicity Lawrence's report from southern Italy on the dark side of the Christmas orange harvest.
EXPRESSO ON WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
The translator of the Portuguese workers in layoff in England. See and listen here
"Não tenho dinheiro para regressar a Portugal!" Read here
Working at Bernard Matthews. See images here
Waiting for the future. Listen and see here
"Não tenho dinheiro para regressar a Portugal!" Read here
Working at Bernard Matthews. See images here
Waiting for the future. Listen and see here
T&G MAKES HARDSHIP PAYMENTS TO WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
There remain around 300 workers who have been laid off at Bernard Matthews.
INFORMATION IN PORTUGUESE
Direitos Laborais no Reino Unido
Informação do Departamento de Comércio e Indústria Britânico
Escolas em Herfordshire
Impostos
Ciencia nas Escolas
Informação do Departamento de Comércio e Indústria Britânico
Escolas em Herfordshire
Impostos
Ciencia nas Escolas
CONTACT
PORTUGUESE WORKERS’ PROJECT
TELEPHONE
0207 467 1256 (Leave Message)
EMAIL
ctp@tuc.org.uk
ADDRESS
Portuguese Workers Project
Trades Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3LS
TELEPHONE
0207 467 1256 (Leave Message)
ctp@tuc.org.uk
ADDRESS
Portuguese Workers Project
Trades Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3LS
UNION'S £200 TURKEY WORKER LIFELINE
Lattest financial measure to help workers laid off at Bernard Matthews
BERNARD MATTHEWS ESCAPES PROSECUTION
Bernard Matthews escapes legal action. Financial Times
BM will not face prosecution despite highly critical reports by inspectors on food safety lapses at the plant. The Telegraph
What is the situation with workers' health?
"... if the media said anything it would be in English and many people would not understrand." "Vêm cá todos porque a comunicação social inglesa não diz nada sobre os portugueses e mesmo que dissesse era em inglês e muita gente não entende. Por isso temos de ver a televisão portuguesa para entender melhor "
BM will not face prosecution despite highly critical reports by inspectors on food safety lapses at the plant. The Telegraph
What is the situation with workers' health?
"... if the media said anything it would be in English and many people would not understrand." "Vêm cá todos porque a comunicação social inglesa não diz nada sobre os portugueses e mesmo que dissesse era em inglês e muita gente não entende. Por isso temos de ver a televisão portuguesa para entender melhor "
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