People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said,
“We salute Hovis bakery workers standing strong in their strike for a significant pay rise.
They have faced down bullying by bosses and harassment by the police on the picket line.
Pay justice is a demand that cuts across all sectors here. Hovis workers are paid less than their co-workers in England, Scotland and Wales for the same work. They are demanding a 10% increase as a step towards pay parity.
While many companies have struggled throughout the pandemic Hovis turned profits of tens of millions. Hovis workers are saying they are no longer accepting second class pay.
Hovis workers kept coming to work throughout the pandemic. That’s why the company is sitting on a pile of wealth. The contribution of Hovis workers needs to be properly valued.
Council’s across the North should voice their support for the Hovis workers as the Derry and Strabane Council has done. Councillors in Derry and Strabane backed a People Before Profit motion supporting the strike and calling on Hovis bosses to meet workers demands.
If the Stormont Executive is serious about strengthening workers rights and challenging inequality it needs to send a clear message of support for Hovis workers demands.
Hovis workers deserve our support and everyone should rally behind their demands. Their fight is a fight for all working class communities. This is the people power action that’s need to improve the lot of the vast majority of people.”
People Before Profit motion passed supported by Derry and Strabane Council:
“Council stands in full solidarity with Hovis bakers taking all-out strike action in pursuit of their demand for a 10% pay increase.
Council will write to the workers representatives, UNITE and BFAWU, expressing our support for their demand for pay parity with Hovis workers in Britain.
Council will write to Hovis management calling on them to swiftly address workers demands and avoid disruption of bread supplies.”