Supermarkets face pickets over worker safety

Sainsbury's and Tesco stores are facing a series of union pickets aimed at stopping abuses of workers at strawberry supplier S&A Produce.

Allegations of mistreatment of the company's workers emerged in the summer, and the T&G general union produced a dossier of evidence after speaking to hundreds of workers on sites. Among the abuses reported were the employment of workers for excessively long shifts, problems with basic supplies of water and electricity, unreasonable charges for administration and medical care, and the enforced sharing of water receptacles while working in the fields.

The T&G has warned that, unless S&A Produce implements changes, it will face a boycott of its produce.