FOREIGN workers at a Burton warehouse have been banned from speaking their own language.
The new policy, introduced at the Waterstone’s Distribution Centre in Centrum 100, was introduced as another row threatened to embroil the firm over pay deals which could affect up to 120 workers.
The language ban was blasted by Unite union as ‘ridiculous’, but the logistics firm backed its decision and said it only applied during working hours, and that foreign employees were allowed to speak in their native tongue during break times.
A spokesman for logistics firm Unipart, which operates the warehouse for the book dealer, said: “It’s important for good clear communication among employees that our stringent health and safety standards are maintained and that all employees speak a common language.
“As such Unipart requires all employees to communicate in English during working hours in the workplace. This does not apply to employees during meal and rest breaks.
“This creates a better team environment and makes sure that employees do not feel isolated or marginalised from other employee groups.”
As a result of the policy the foreign workforce, which mainly consists of Poles and Latvians, have drawn up a petition to hand to Unipart bosses, claiming discrimination and breaches of their human rights.
Rick Coyle, a spokesman for Unite union, said: “It is ridiculous to employ lots of people from other countries whilst insisting they must speak among themselves only in English.
“Unipart has a lot to learn about human nature and respect.
“Unite supports the workers’ petition and a full-blown union recognition campaign at the Centrum 100 warehouse is well under way.”
Meanwhile, a second argument is bubbling under over new contracts and wage changes.
The Unipart spokesman added: “New terms and conditions for all new full-time and shortterm agency employees have been introduced and are in line with the minimum wage. After a six-month probationary period employees are given a salary increment which takes their salary above the minimum wage.
“These new conditions were agreed with our employee forum before introduction. We’ve also announced that we will be taking on 40 new full-time employees at the site and have offered 26 three-month, fixed-term contracts on the new terms to existing agency employees, to cover the increase in workload over the Christmas period.”
Mr Coyle said the new regulations were ‘designed to ensure agency workers get fair treatment, not pay cuts’.
“Unite is looking closely at Unipart’s pay cuts for its existing agency workers, and will not hesitate to prosecute any employer that flouts the law.
“Cuts of around £1.50 per hour are sickening, and run the risk of bringing the good name of Waterstone’s into disrepute.” One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “This is the second wage cut in two years and it’s a real kick in the teeth.
“These new contracts are a way of getting around the law and it’s the biggest exploitation of workers I’ve ever heard of.”
