Some troubling allegations have been made about the popular sandwich shop Pret A Manger. Pret A Manger presents an ethical image and has been involved in a worthwhile scheme to donate unsold food to the homeless. But it is being claimed that some of its workers have been victimised for trying to organise a trade union. They had wanted to raise specific concerns relating to issues such as bullying and late notification of shift changes.
Almost straight away, key organisers found themselves victimised. One worker was given a disciplinary hearing for an “unauthorised absence”, even though he had been off sick and phoned the store to inform them.
…
The Pret A Manger Staff Union (PAMSU) was formally established on 1 September. Two weeks later, leading organiser Andrej Stopa found himself facing disciplinary charges for events which took place in January 2012. The date of the hearing was moved several times, and finally rearranged at 24-hours’ notice, meaning Andrej was unable to attend. As a result, he was fired.
Apparently staff have faced pressure to leave the fledgling union. I like Pret A Manger – but both the concerns which led to the union being formed, and the complaints about management responses to union activity, are worrying.
Hat Tip: Workers’ Liberty
