The Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) is calling for international support in its fight to repulse union-busting at the fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), where the union has represented workers for close to 40 years.
Click here to send a message to KFC!
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In its effort to unilaterally dictate terms and conditions to its employees, the company has attacked the union, government arbitration and the collective bargaining system itself.
Last fall, when bargaining negotiations deadlocked over the union's refusal to accept reduced terms and conditions, KFC announced its attention to terminate the collective agreement despite the workers' wish to continue being represented by the BIU. The dispute simmered, and in May this year the government referred the case to arbitration. While arbitration was pending, KFC Bermuda (KFCB) on May 18 informed all employees that it was henceforth doing business under a new name (Kentucky Fried Chicken Operations, KFCO) and called on them to sign by June 1 a 'Statement of employment' by which they renounced their collective bargaining rights. Company lawyers then obtained a court order to halt the arbitration proceedings.
This was followed by a letter to all employees in the name of Kentucky Fried Chicken Operations Ltd. informing that "if we have not received your signed statement with KFCO by May 31, 2012 we will regretfully have to assume that you are choosing to resign your employment with KFCB and KFCO". Employees were further informed on May 31 in a communication entitled "update on change of employment to KFC Operations Ltd" that employment was henceforth on a temporary basis only.
KFC became even more aggressive still when the government Economy Minister announced it was initiating court proceedings to enjoin KFC "from any or all actions designed to interfere with or defeat the integrity of the Arbitration process", including unilateral changes to terms and conditions and employment contracts. The company's arrogant response to the government stated that it "cannot accommodate the Minister's request to refrain from implementing changes to employment contracts."
On June 1, the BIU called an emergency mass membership meeting and a public march on KFC. BIU President Chris Furbert said: "The BIU has, in good faith, abided by the law, submitted to arbitration and lifted its boycott in accordance with the request of the Minister of Economy Trade and Industry. Meanwhile, the jobs, and terms and conditions of employment of the KFC workers are under daily attack."
The union rightly fears the wider impact if KFC succeeds in unilaterally stripping workers of their collective bargaining rights. You can support their struggle - click here to send a message [1] to the company and to parent company Yum! Brands CEO David Novak, whose 2011 compensation hit USD 20.4 million (Yum!)
