Workplace Report June 2007

Health & safety news

GMB demonstration at Tesco head office

Members of the GMB general union at Bakkavor food suppliers staged a demonstration outside the head office of the Tesco supermarket group last month, following their employer's failure to take action on health and safety.

Tesco is one of the main supermarkets supplied by Bakkavor, which refuses to recognise the GMB and employs mainly migrant workers.

The union has long been highlighting problems such as slips and trips, insufficient ventilation and poor equipment at Bakkavor. In March it warned of the potential for a serious accident at the company's hummus plant in north-west London, after problems with salmonella at the plant prompted changes on the production line.