Slice of £1.2m for cake workers

Over 400 staff at Greencore in Hull, which supplies leading supermarkets, stand to receive payouts after the Unite union raised a group action over claims of unlawfully deducted wages.

The union says the workers agreed to temporarily suspend premium pay and enhanced holiday rates from June 2010 to October 2011 to help the company during difficult trading conditions, but claim the firm refused to revert back to the workers’ original terms of employment.

Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: “It’s great news that the workers at this cake and dessert supplier to the country’s best known supermarkets eventually got justice.

“This situation could have been avoided if Greencore had listened to the union and adhered to some basic ethical principles.

“Unite was not going to allow Greencore to break the law, attack union rights and the terms and conditions of the lowest paid workers in society.

“Many of these workers had to survive on poverty wages since management changed the terms, then broke their promise even though the Greencore Group is extremely profitable.”

The workers are still waiting for a remedy hearing to determine how much money they will receive, but it is estimated it could be around £1.2m.

Greencore said: “Greencore acknowledges the recent decision in the tribunal case in this matter.

“However, it is very important to note that the case has not concluded and, in particular, no specific claim has been agreed or stipulated by the tribunal.”

Further hearings were scheduled and until the case was concluded Greencore said it was “far too premature to discuss the union claims”.