Strike for justice

Strike action could be on the cards at a major cereal manufacturer in Wiltshire after a manufacturing operative was sacked unfairly.

Justin Beckett, a Unite rep at Cereal Partners in Trowbridge has an ‘unblemished’ 18-year work record.

Unite said that there was ‘an internal stitch up’ during the disciplinary process, which followed an alleged minor verbal altercation between Mr Beckett and a company manager.

“Unite will not stand by and allow our rep Justin Beckett, who has a 18-year unblemished work record with this company, to lose his job in a manner that smacks of an internal stitch-up, following a minor verbal exchange with a colleague,” said Tony Hulbert, Unite regional officer.

Unite is calling for the immediate reinstatement of Mr Beckett, who has been a rep of 10 years standing at the company’s Staverton site, which makes the breakfast cereal brands Shredded Wheat and Shreddies.

Unite has a mandate for strike both action and/or industrial action short of a strike from the workforce in its campaign for Justin Beckett’s reinstatement, following his dismissal on September 7.

Unite regional officer Tony Hulbert is due to meet management on Friday (November 4) to reinforce the reinstatement call – or industrial action is on the cards.

“I will be making Justin’s case very strongly on Friday for his immediate reinstatement, otherwise Unite members at the site will be taking industrial action, including strikes, in support of Justin – that’s how strongly they feel about the unfair treatment that has been meted out to their long-standing colleague,” said Hulbert.

 

“Hopefully, common sense will prevail on Friday and Justin will be reinstated,” he added.

Unite has nearly 100 members at the site which has a workforce of about 170.