Workplace Report September 2007

Health & safety news

Protest at shift changes

Workers at Hilton Food Group in Huntingdon staged a protest outside their workplace gates in July over the imposition of new shift patterns which they say will harm their health and family life.

The workers, who belong to the T&G section of general union Unite, currently work eight-hour weekday shifts, but the firm is introducing 13-hour shifts from Monday to Saturday. As well as adversely affecting workers’ work-life balance, the change – which has been imposed without any consultation of the 250 staff – will lead to a reduction in overtime.