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From: http://www.fairtoagencyworkers.org/



Dozens of the agency workers, mainly Polish, are forced to try and wrap up warm in their own clothes while permanent colleagues alongside them are fully kitted out in specialist protective gear.

The workers pack milk, dairy produce and meat ready for transport to Tesco stores in the ice-filled rooms at the chilled warehouse distribution centre on the Stakehill Industrial Estate at Middleton.

Frostbite and fatigue have both been identified as amongst the risks to workers who suffer prolonged exposure within the chilled warehouse.

A Health & Safety risk assessment also referred to control measures including protective clothing and equipment, health screening and regular breaks in a warm area.

All these are provided for permanent staff - but not for the agency workers, say UNITE the union.

UNITE union official Neil Clarke said: “The permanent staff are equipped with appropriate thermal clothing, including padded coats and trousers, hats, gloves etc. The agency staff working alongside them are clearly identifiable because they are in their own clothes. It’s so unfair to exploit honest working people in this way and not to protect them from a freezing work environment.”

The North West TUC say the stark contrast between the two groups of workers – who are doing exactly the same job - highlights how agency workers are discriminated against by employers.

UNITE has already submitted more than 20 separate grievances to bosses at the workers’ Liverpool based agency, Driving Edge, about the lack of protective clothing.

It says the agency staff, who make up almost half of the 250-plus employees in the “pick” area of the Warehouse, also earn the minimum wage of just £5.75 an hour – compared to £7.57 an hour for permanent staff.

Many have been working at the depot for a number of years. Agency workers have begun to complain about suffering from aches and pains which UNITE believes are connected to long term exposure to cold temperatures.

“Agency workers are working at the Tesco site permanently purely because they are cheaper to hire and easier to fire,” said Mr Clarke.

“It’s a two-tier work force.

“Firstly, there is a directly employed workforce doing one job, then there is an agency workforce right alongside them doing exactly the same job, who are virtually permanent and who are on far less favourable terms and conditions.

“They do not get the agreed rate for the job, holidays, sick pay or Personal Protective Equipment. It’s sheer exploitation – Tesco should be ashamed of themselves.”

UNITE say that despite the treatment of agency workers in Middleton, Tesco are still signatories to the Ethical Trading Initiative – an agreement by major High Street stores to try and stamp out exploitation, particularly in the developing world, with the introduction of minimum standards at its very heart.

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The agency workers have been hired by two agencies, the Liverpool-based agency Driving Edge, and a local agency named Top Gear. They both have their own offices at the Middleton site which is run on behalf of Tesco by Wincanton.