Unite has hit out at the unfair treatment of two shop stewards working at Food Service Logistics, who have been suspended on trumped-up charges.

The reps are a senior shop steward and their deputy, who have been falsely accused of being involved in an altercation after being singled out to do work not in their job description and now face disciplinary hearings next week.

It comes after these Unite stewards had previously brought numerous grievances against Food Service Logistics including discrimination for trade union activity and behaviour of management towards them and other Unite members.

Hemel Hempstead-based Food Service Logistics is a primary supplier to the Starbucks retail network in the south of England, including franchised stores. Starbucks itself has come under fire in recent years after facing accusations of unfair dismissals and union busting in the US.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a case of union busting, pure and simple - and Unite will not idly stand by while two hardworking shop stewards are singled out in this way.

"We will always do whatever it takes to defend our members and shop stewards from discrimination and we demand that Food Service Logistics do the right thing and stop this disciplinary action now."

A recent consultative ballot of Unite members working at Food Service Logistics found 100 per cent want the two shop stewards reinstated. The pair were extremely successful reps, having worked hard to increase Unite membership at their workplace by 350 per cent to almost 100 members during the past few months.

Next steps could involve balloting for strike action over the dispute should planned disciplinary hearings go ahead on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 August.

Unite regional officer Alan Brkljac said: "Food Service Logistics are clearly unfairly targeting these two Unite representatives due to the fact they are highly successful and respected shop stewards.

"Essentially, they are being penalised for being too good at the union work they do. No worker should face losing their jobs due to undertaking trade union activity and we demand that they are reinstated immediately otherwise there will be an escalation of further action."

ENDS