Union’s Tesco challenge defeated

Tesco shareholders are facing a call to end "exploitation and discrimination" affecting workers in firms that supply meat to the supermarket group.

The trade union Unite has tabled a motion to be debated at Tesco’s annual general meeting, being held in Glasgow.

The union says contract workers in the supply chain experience "harsh and divisive" conditions.

But Tesco’s board opposes the motion, saying the firm’s own guidelines already ensure sufficient protection.

In a statement, Tesco’s board said the company’s guidelines went "far beyond the legal requirements and ensure all workers are treated fairly and without discrimination".

The board also says that an independent inquiry into employment practices in the meat and supply chain is already underway, conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is the most appropriate way of addressing issues of concern.

Union survey

Unite says it is the first time a UK union has had a resolution adopted at a shareholder meeting of a major company.

The union says structural discrimination exists in part of the supply chain, with contract workers experiencing inferior conditions to permanent staff.

In a survey of 48 meat factories, the union claims to have found that more than half used agency labour all year round, who were paid on average 38 pence less an hour than permanent staff.

And while 60% of permanent staff were born in Britain, 80% of agency workers were born overseas.

"The exploitation of migrant agency workers and undercutting of indigenous workers divides workplaces, damages community social cohesion and fuels racism," said Unite deputy general secretary Jack Dromey.

About 40 protesters staged a demonstration outside the meeting, urging shareholders to support the motion. </p

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