speaks to Joe Reddick, Alan Bunyan, TGWU district organiser.
When •aia the strike start and over issues?
i was over cuesuon ol pay. The company had oftered us per cenl.
workforce wanted was a straigh! £10 across the board. The strike is really around the low paid workers There are 350 workers at Famous Names, making confectionary of different sorts, probably the most well known is Famous Names Liquers chocolate mice. Over 80 per cent of the workforce are women.
Are the Wower equal pay?
Well, it depends what you mean. All the women are more or less on the bottom grades, wnien is tol or a 40 hour week The women ale employed in packing, sorting , foiling, and cleanIng. Men here eart mOTE starting different grade from £65 for a fort hour week.
been the response of management?
¡he management of the former firm, then called Caviner's, bought Goldsmith out. They Famous changed Names. the Hallid Each director paid £25,000 for iner share In e firm. Goldsmith was involved in stripping, since this new management took made over £1.6 million profit in the last trading years.
The strike started Friday and ACAS were called TGWU shop steward and in on Monday, so that's where we are at present. It'll be made within the next week Are there other unions involved in the struggle apart from the TGWU, Food and Drinks section?
There's ACTSS and the AUEW. but they sellica company's offer separately us. The AUEW handling any spares that are going through the picket.
The firm owns another factory • We understand Southpool. Liverpool. that the workforce came out on 21 April when they were offered the same pittance of 5 per cent.
Why have they demand. ed £10 across the board • instead of a percentage increase?
Take management's offer of 5 per • cent, what that means for the low paid women workers. • I WOn [ even pav for their rise in gas bills The strike is about low pay, and the shop stewards committee has the full support of the workforce to win this demand particularly that of other workers on higher differentials.
What support has been forthcoming so far?
The first we've had Bristol West LPYS. Easton Labour Party.
Duties shed be ser seward.
KARBAKARAK nivu DUNSTER ROAD, KNO WLE, BRISTOL BS4 IBY