Reps’ involvement gives organising drive extra bite

The latest organising target for the Unite general union’s T&G section is the meat industry, with the strategy to be led from the “bottom up”.

The union claims that more than half of all poultry industry workers are now Unite members – with the figure rising to around 70% in workplaces where it is recognised.

These impressive membership levels are the result of a successful organising campaign, and the “red meat” sector of the union is now hoping to follow its example.

A membership drive will target the industry’s major employers – including Tulip, Kerry Foods, the Dawn Group and Cranswick – with lay members and reps to the fore. Activists have already played a key role in establishing a meat sector combine, chaired by shop steward Scott Walker; meeting three times a year, this will allow the union to go beyond individual companies to influence retailers and the government.

The approach has already been tried and tested in the poultry industry. “The combines have progressively drawn in first Grampian, then Bernard Matthews and Moy Park, [and] have been driven by the lay members rather than the union as an organisation,” said Walker. “It’s a blueprint for other industrial sectors bringing members together.”