**Wrexham Factory Workers Secure Landmark Win Against Multinational Food Manufacturer**
A determined group of employees at the Oscar Mayer ready meal production plant in Wrexham have emerged victorious following months of industrial action in opposition to controversial employment practices. The dispute, which drew national attention, culminated in the reinstatement of staff and the landmark signing of a statutory union recognition agreement.
Oscar Mayer, a major supplier of ready meals to prominent supermarket chains such as Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Greggs and the Co-op, faced a fierce backlash after it attempted to impose sweeping changes to its workers’ contracts. The proposed ‘fire and re-hire’ scheme threatened to cut annual wages by as much as £3,000, prompting more than 500 members of the Unite union to launch over 200 days of strike action between September 2024 and April 2025.
Many of the affected workers, some of whom have English as a second language, were reportedly confronted with difficult ultimatums, facing potential dismissal unless they signed on to revised, less favourable terms. Unite said miscommunications and confusion about contractual deadlines resulted in unjust terminations for several staff.
Unite, which led the industrial campaign, successfully negotiated a resolution that saw previously dismissed workers offered their jobs back, alongside compensation for lost wages. Among the key concessions secured were the restoration of paid breaks, an additional day’s leave for those required to work bank holidays, and greater flexibility for staff to carry over unused holidays into the next year. Importantly, this dispute also resulted in a significant first: the formal recognition of the Unite union within Oscar Mayer.
“This is a tremendous victory by low-paid workers who were prepared to stand up to their employer and fight back against pay cuts while defending fellow workers,” commented Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. She highlighted the importance of collective action and pointed to the settlement as evidence of the union’s readiness to challenge corporate practices deemed unfair to employees.
The protracted industrial action took on added momentum when Unite widened its campaign to include Oscar Mayer’s parent company, the global investment firm Pemberton Asset Management. With external solidarity and internal persistence, the atmosphere around the factory transformed, underlining the deep-rooted frustration among workers and the crucial role trade unions still play in British labour relations.
Jono Davies, the Unite regional officer, described the outcome as a pivotal moment for the site in Wrexham. “I’m pleased Unite now has formal recognition with Oscar Mayer, focused on representing our members’ best interests and enhancing their terms and conditions. This recognition agreement marks a significant milestone—one that many of our members at Oscar Mayer have long awaited,” Davies remarked.
Strikes, which had paralysed production for much of the year, were eventually suspended in April 2025 to allow for meaningful negotiations. After weeks of dialogue, both parties arrived at a settlement, and the company expressed satisfaction with the agreement. In a statement, Oscar Mayer underlined its ongoing commitment to its workforce and the broader Wrexham community, stating: “We are pleased that an agreement with Unite was reached some months ago and we continue to focus on building a long-term sustainable business that is at the forefront of the food manufacturing industry in the UK.”
This outcome marks a significant development in the often-contentious arena of corporate employment practices. For workers at Oscar Mayer, it has been a poignant reminder of the power of solidarity and persistence. For other employers in the sector, the episode stands as a timely lesson in the necessity of meaningful engagement with the very people who keep their businesses running.
As the dust settles in Wrexham, the broader debate about the ethical boundaries of ‘fire and re-hire’ schemes and workers’ rights is unlikely to subside. For now, however, the Oscar Mayer workforce has shown what can be achieved when employees take a united stand in the face of adversity.