Factory workers to strike over alleged 'bully boy' fire and rehire

David Humphreys

4 June 2024 at 10:09 am·2-min read

Envases Group factory, Trinity Park Industrial Estate, Liverpool. Formerly owner by HUBER Packaging. — -Credit: (Image: Google Maps)

A Bootle-based tin can printing firm faces major staff walkouts over alleged “bully boy” fire and rehire practices.

Printers at Envases on Trinity Park Industrial Estate are to stage strike action after claims staff were told to either accept new contracts or be dismissed. This is commonly referred to as fire and rehire.

Members of Unite the Union are to walk out later this month, beginning from Wednesday June 12 with knock on effects for the company’s supply chain.

Envases Liverpool was formerly part of the Huber Packaging Group. In February 2021 the Huber Packaging plants became part of Denmark-headquartered Envases Europe with the wider business boasting 84 locations globally.

The site specialises in rectangular cans and canisters, as well as United Nations approved drums. At the Bootle location, the firm manufactures tin plate packaging from 250 ml up to 25 litres.

Its website describes its workers as a "dedicated and experienced team" with up to 200 staff.

According to Unite, new contracts that were put forward by the business required printing staff to work in the company’s production hall when required. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Envases has behaved in a disgraceful manner in brutally firing and rehiring its workers to force though changes to working practices.

“Its bully boy practices won’t work. Unite always backs its members to the hilt when they are fighting for improved jobs, pay and conditions and the Envases workers will receive the union’s complete support.” The strike action will stop the production of industrial tin cans which are produced for a host of major UK companies including Morris, PPG, Barrettine, Sherwin Williams, Castrol, Duckhams, Fentons, Bostic, Wilkinsons and McVittie Can Works.

Strikes will begin on Wednesday June 12 and run until June 14. There will then be further strike action from June 17-21 and June 24-25.

Gary Fairclough, Unite regional officer, added: “The forthcoming strike action will bring production to a halt and cause delays and disruption throughout Envases supply chain but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making. A resolution to the dispute is directly in the hands of the company’s management.”

The ECHO contacted Envases for comment.

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