M&S Demos Go Global

LONDON, March 13/PRNewswire/ --

- ATTN: News, City, Industrial and Retail Editors

Today (13th March), Unite the union will step up its campaign for workers
in M&S's meat supply chain with international and national demonstrations
outside M&S outlets. (see note to editors for UK demonstrations).

Demonstrations will take place across the UK including Northern Ireland
and also in Turkey and Hungary. Followed by action next week in the Republic
of Ireland, Korea, Romania, Poland and Bermuda. These actions form part of a
rolling programme of international action organised through the International
Union of Food workers, the global union of food and agriculture workers to
which Unite is affiliated.

The international demonstrations are a remarkable example of action by
union activists who are demanding that M&S insist that workers in its supply
chain are treated fairly. In many cases these demonstrators face very tough
organising conditions and harassment from the authorities. Union activists in
Moscow were arrested outside the Marks & Spencer store on March 6 for
demonstrating against M&S.

Unite has evidence that there is widespread discrimination in the
treatment of workers in the UK meat supply chain. A permanent two tier
workforce amongst many suppliers has been created, starting conflict between
migrant and indigenous workers and helping to cause community disharmony. The
union is calling on M&S to agree to a minimum standards agreement.

Unite Joint General Secretary, Tony Woodley, says:

"Today we are reaching out to customers beyond the UK and the Republic of
Ireland to tell them about the treatment of workers in M&S's supply chain.
Many consumers across the world will be concerned that M&S are allowing
workers in their supply chain to be treated so unfairly. A lot of customers
use M&S because they claim to have high ethical standards.

"This is not just about workers in the UK and Republic of Ireland this is
a global organising strategy. We are working with the IUF to protect all
workers' terms and conditions, to prevent companies like M&S driving down
conditions and sending workers on a race to the bottom.

"Justice for low paid workers is the least we should expect from a brand
that claims to have corporate social responsibility at the top of its agenda.
The workers expect it, the union expects it and M&S customers expect it. It
is time M&S delivered."

A survey of 1100 people in the UK recently revealed that 65% of
respondents expect M&S to have higher ethical standards than other retailers
with regard to workers in their supply chain. A greater proportion of M&S
customers (72%) expected higher ethical standards.

In the survey, 92% of the sample agreed with the statement that 'it is
the responsibility of supermarkets to ensure that workers in their supply
chain were treated ethically', with only 3% disagreeing with the statement.
Despite talks and independent research which backs the workers' claims, M&S
has failed to take effective action by insisting that the meat supply
industry stops exploiting its workforce.

Notes to editors

The demos will take place between 11.00am and 1.00pm with the exception
of the demonstration at the Retail Week conference in London which will take
place between 11.00am and 12.00pm

Retail Week conference Hilton London Metropole between 11.00- 12.00
Bristol 78 Broadmead, Bristol, Avon, BS1 3DS
Belfast 48 Donegall Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 5BY
Cardiff 72 Queen Street, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10 2XG
Birmingham 28-40 High Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B17 0HT
Liverpool 35 Church Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1DF
Aberdeen 2 St Nicholas Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB9 1BU
Leeds 47 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6HF.

Source: Unite the Union

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo +44(0)7768-931-315

2008-03-12 19:02:49 0311344 PRNEWSWIRE