The trade union representing about half of the workers at Northern Ireland poultry processor Moy Park is calling for a ballot that could lead to industrial action over changes to working conditions proposed by the company’s management team.
Changes to pay and conditions have been anticipated by the workforce at the U.K’s second largest poultry meat firm, Moy Park, since it was taken over by Pilgrim’s Pride, a subsidiary of the former owner, JBS, in 2017.
Those changes have now been set out to the workforce of around 6,200, reports Belfast Telegraph. The trade union, Unite — which represents about 3,000 of the company’s employees — is threatening to hold a ballot on future industrial action.
Unite opposes the latest proposal from the firm, which would affect, among other conditions, shift allowances, the staff sickness scheme, holiday allowances, and work breaks.
In a previous report, local union representative, Sean McKeever, told Belfast Telegraph that Moy Park had reported profits of GBP60 million (US$78 million) last year.
“The attacks on workers’ pay and conditions are simply part of a drive to maximize profits and increase returns for corporate shareholders,” he said.
“We are aware of the recent union statement, and we will continue to engage with the union and work towards a negotiated agreement,” said a company spokesperson.
Earlier this month, Moy Park announced the temporary closure of one of its poultry meat processing facilities, which would also affect a hatchery. The firm blamed “challenging conditions” for its decision on the closures, which are scheduled to be lifted in November 2019.
One month ago, a judge in the U.S. state of Delaware refused to dismiss a shareholder lawsuit over Pilgrim’s Pride’s acquisition of Moy Park two years ago. In the suit, minority shareholders had challenged the fairness of the transaction.
Commenting on the 2018 results published by Pilgrim’s Pride n February of this year, its then-CEO Bill Lovette said that the integration of Moy Park had proceeded better than expected.
“We are continuing to improve the performance of our European (Moy Park) operations. Margins have increased since the acquisition just a year and a half ago, and are moving in a positive trajectory,” he said. “We have plans in place which, combined with the success in improving the profitability of our prior acquisitions, have reaffirmed our belief we have the methodology and the experienced personnel required to continue growing the operating and financial performance of the U.K. and continental Europe business.”
Slaughtering an estimated 280 million broilers in 2017, Moy Park is among the Poultry International’s Top 10 Poultry Companies in Europe.
With manufacturing units in Northern Ireland, England, France, and The Netherlands, Moy Park is Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business, according to the company’s web site. As well as processing poultry, it produces 200,000 metric tons of prepared foods each year, which are supplied to retailers and major restaurant chains.
