Kettle Chips calls in US union-busters

A British private equity company has called in one of the leading US union-busters to stop workers at one of the country's best-known upscale potato chip producers, Kettle Chips, from joining a trade union. The California-based Burke Group has been engaged by Lion Capital, owners of Kettle Foods, to dissuade the 340 workers at their Norwich factory from joining Unite, the country's largest union. Workers are balloting on whether to join. Some 40% of the workers are migrants from eastern Europe. The company says it has had to seek advice from "a number of sources" to fight what it considers are union experts in organizing recognition campaigns. It did not comment directly on employing Omega Training, part of the Burke Group. The company does not want to recognize a union. It said: "We are very proud of our workforce and continue to believe passionately that direct engagement with employees in the spirit of mutuality is in the best interests of our employees and shareholders." A spokesman added: "All our employees enjoy a secure salary (the lowest of which is 25% above the minimum wage); we have a 38-hour week with 25 days' paid holiday per annum increasing with service, and we offer a blue-chip benefits package that includes 100% sick pay... and a profit-sharing bonus that is open to all employees. We're not sure what Unite the union wish to do for our employees." The union is baffled why the company is so determined to block recognition. Miles Hubbard, Unite's eastern region organizer, said: "They are a good company with a decent record so we cannot understand why they are being so aggressive about union activity. We were called in by the workers when they did not receive annualized payments for overtime." Richard Howitt, Labor member of European parliament for the East of England, has said he wants to undertake his own review. He has written to the managing director, Jeremy Bradley, to explain that the company could be in breach of government guidelines, which require companies to be clear about external consultancies. He said: "Bringing in US union-busters raises a much wider issue as it goes against the whole spirit of government legislation over union recognition, which is to promote a social partnership between workers and management." The firm has not responded.