INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT RF BROOKES, NEWPORT

That this House is concerned by reports that employers are seeking to offset the costs of the new National Living Wage by undermining the terms and conditions of employment of their staff; believes that the attempted imposition of new contracts at the RF Brookes food plant in Newport, part of the 2 Sisters Food Group, is yet another example of this; notes that workers face losing shift allowances worth up to 25 per cent of their income to finance the living wage; further notes that whilst low paid workers are under attack, the Chief Executive of 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan, and his wife have amassed a fortune of £430 million and feature in the Sunday Times Rich List; supports the members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union in taking industrial action over the imposition of new contracts; and calls on the management of RF Brookes and 2 Sisters Food Group to open meaningful negotiations with the union.