Tesco and M&S targeted in Thanet Earth workers’ protest

Protestors dressed as vegetables will descend on Tesco and Marks & Spencer tomorrow in a bid to draw attention to working conditions at Thanet Earth.

Officials from Unite vowed to “take the fight to the top of the food chain” to bring attention to what it claimed were “sweatshop” conditions for workers at the eco-friendly supplier.

Tesco and M&S stores in Kent will be targeted. Thanet Earth also supplies fruit and vegetables to Sainsbury’s and Asda.

“[Supermarkets] have an obligation to make sure workers are treated fairly from root to basket,” said Unite official Dave Weeks.

“We know many shoppers think if you buy local you buy ethical [and] that’s the message Thanet Earth might have you believe. But these workers are being treated like sweatshop labour.”

Read more
Unite and Thanet Earth fight over worker rights (5 March 2011)
Sustainable intensification: does Thanet point the way? (analysis; 29 January 2011)