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I've spent the last few months speaking to workers that make ready meals, dips and pastries at @Bakkavor, a major supplier for @Tesco, @sainsburys, @waitrose & others. They told me some of the most horrific bullying stories I've ever heard [THREAD] https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
One woman faced such chronic bullying over several months that she eventually had a panic attack and had to be picked up by an ambulance. She brought a grievance against the manager, but HR did nothing. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
Another woman, who has chronic health conditions that require her to take regular toilet breaks, was refused bathroom breaks and on two occasions soiled herself on the production line. Another source says he saw a woman crying, begging to use the toilet. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
Then there is the speed of the production line - it is relentless - and managers shout at workers if they slow down or make a mistake. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
But the audits that supermarkets and the company itself carries out don't reaveal the reality of what goes on in the factory. The managers always have at least a little bit of warning so slow down and clean up the lines. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
With coronavirus, the problem is amplified. Workers are still being made to work side by side on the production line, as little as 10cm apart. The canteen remains crammed. The government considers them key workers, but do we really need hummus that badly? https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/z3bdzx/revealed-the-bullying-allegations-and-bad-conditions-behind-your-favourite-ready-meals
The article was only possible because of the help I got from @WorkersAngry, who introduced me to workers and shared information with me. They've just got a book out, which goes into a lot of these issues at Bakkavor and other west London factories. Buy it! https://pmpress.org.uk/product/class-power-on-zero-hours/
