Support locked out Bootle workers

In a dispute over redundancy terms and criteria all 149 workers - many highly skilled - at Mayr-Melnhof Packaging (MMP) in Bootle, Merseyside have been locked out of their workplace since 18 February.

On Friday March 16th, 49 workers were issued with their redundancy notices and earlier in the week four workers were sacked at a disciplinary meeting where all the rules of natural justice were flouted by management.

Workers now fear the Austrian multi-national company will close the site or attempt to re-open as a finishing site for the products they produce for food industry giants such as Kelloggs, a process that will

require less skilled agency workers with few rights.

The dispute is a further example of how the employers are determined to use the world economic crisis - and which here in Britain the coalition government is adding to through its massive cuts programme and a failure to plan for growth - to push down wages permanently.

Workers are looking for support and messages of solidarity can be sent to MMPCanPayWontPay@unitetheunion.org

Speakers for union branch meetings can be arranged by contacting Phil Potter - a great bloke who i met

yesterday - on 07970 375382. 

Despite nothing moving in or our of the factory the workers have maintained a 24/7 picket line since they were locked out - the photograph below does not do it justice as it was taken when 40 were meeting with Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke on Sunday March 18th.