'The prospect of “fire and rehire” remains a possibility'

MS for Wrexham

If you have been travelling around Wrexham recently, you may have seen large numbers of Oscar Mayer workers striking outside city centre supermarkets.

Based on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, the company, which is one of the major ready meal manufacturers, is proposing significant changes to its workers’ pay and conditions.

Concerned constituents continue to contact me and whilst I have been communicating with Oscar Mayer and the Unite union, I remain extremely disappointed by the ongoing developments.

Unite has described the consultation process as “shambolic” and although I have been informed this is not Oscar Mayer’s desired outcome, the prospect of “fire and rehire” remains a possibility. This objectionable practice is something I disagree with profoundly.

An overwhelming majority of workers voted in favour of strike action, which began on 12 September and is due to end on 10 October, and I have urged Oscar Mayer to enter meaningful discussions with Unite in order to find a satisfactory solution for all parties.

The Wrexham Gateway project is something I have long-championed as I believe it has the opportunity to deliver something truly transformational for our city.

Working with local partners, the Welsh Government invested £25m in 2021, with the scheme aiming to regenerate the Mold Road area – a key corridor into the city.

Frustratingly, there have been bumps in the road, including the significant setback in January 2023, when the Conservative UK Government rejected Wrexham’s bid for ‘Levelling-Up’ funding for a second time.

Updates have been less frequent in recent months so I asked the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy & Planning, Rebecca Evans MS, how the scheme is progressing. The Cabinet Secretary confirmed the Welsh Government’s enthusiasm for the Gateway project is “unquestionable” and the partnership remains focused on delivering the project in full.

She also revealed Wrexham AFC intend to have the stadium, including the new pitch and Kop stand, ready for the UEFA under-19 championships in the summer of 2026, with North Wales hosting the competition in the Football Association of Wales's 150th anniversary year.

As always, if you’re a constituent and there is an issue I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743. You can also keep up to date by following me on ‘X’ (Twitter) and Facebook, just search @lesley4wrexham.