Racist abuse dispute at 2 Sisters.

Racist abuse dispute at Midlands food firm.

The dispute at Midlands food firm 2 Sisters is growing following the alleged racial abuse of a worker at the 2 Sisters Food Group in Bevan Way, Smethwick, where a Unite shop steward was suspended after complaining to management about a worker being abused.

60 workers who staged unofficial action this week were suspended by the firm which is now refusing to hold talks with Unite.

Worker Zohib Javid, 21, has claimed five weeks ago that a security guard had verbally abused him, said the guard had been removed from the site by the firm – but only after the strike action took place.

Mr Javid said staff were furious about management's slowness to act, and were demanding the reinstatement of shop steward Raja Naved who had pressed the racism case with the firm.

Mr Naved was suspended for leaving his post to take up the discrimination issue with the company.

Unite regional officer Joe Clarke, aid the firm refused to meet with him if Mr Naved was going to be there. “I have now registered the issue under the internal disputes procedure and am waiting for a response back.”