Council condemns 'fire and rehire' tactics of Oscar Mayer

Wrexham councillors have backed a Plaid Cymru motion in support of striking workers at Oscar Mayer and called for the dispute to be resolved.

The motion was moved by Councillor Marc Jones and seconded by Councillor Carrie Harper and carried by a large majority. 

Cllr Jones said: "Oscar Mayer is one of our largest local employers and the dispute goes to the heart of what we sort of Wrexham we want. Do we want it to be a place with decent wages, good working conditions and a motivated workforce? Do we want it to be a forward-looking area for employment? Or do we want to see it characterised by a 19th century approach to worker-boss relations where anyone who disagrees with the employers can be fired and then rehired on worse pay and conditions?

"The hundreds of workers on strike have made sure everyone knows about their campaign and I want us, as a council, to recognise their wish to maintain their wages and current working conditions. Oscar Mayer is an important employer in the area but that doesn't mean it can ride roughshod over its workforce and reduce their incomes - especially as we're still in a cost-of-living crisis.

"There's another reason to raise this in the chamber - while this dispute was taking place, the council held a jobs' fair and Oscar Mayer was invited. Rightly or wrongly, it was seen as the council siding with management during a trade union dispute."

A large contingent of strikers assembled outside the Guildhall in advance of the meeting, which heard support from across the chamber.

MOTION TO COUNCIL

This council disagrees with the actions taken by management at local employer Oscar Mayer to reduce wages for workers in Wrexham and 'fire and rehire' those who refuse to comply.

 

This council resolves to:

1. urge Oscar Mayer's management to work with workers and their trade unions to resolve the current dispute 

2. disagrees with the concept of 'fire and rehire' as an outdated means of management

3. put on hold cooperation with Oscar Mayer pending the resolution of the current industrial dispute

4. urge Oscar Mayer to re-instate employees who have been dismissed for not signing new contracts, many of whom didn’t understand the terms or process.

Councillor Marc Jones and Councillor Carrie Harper with striking Unite members outside the Guildhall in advance of the council motion they moved.