GMB warns of ‘battery farm’ workplaces
Workplaces across the UK are being turned into “battery farms” by the use of electronic tagging, according to the GMB.
It claims that the use of electronic tags to monitor workers’ efficiency is becoming more common and workers are being reduced to automatons.
A new report for the union, written by Michael Blakemore, professor of geography at the University of Durham, claims that the technology is being used by an increasing number of warehouse operations, including big name retailers.
Typically, the worker wears a tag on their wrist which allows orders to be sent to warehouses instantaneously and direct employees to the goods’ locations. Employers can also track unauthorised breaks or slow work practises.
Paul Kenny, acting general secretary of the GMB, said: “This technology which involves the electronic tagging of workers has been imported into Britain from the US. The GMB is no Luddite organisation but we will not stand idly by to see our members reduced to automatons.
“The use of this technology needs to be redesigned to be an aide to the worker rather than making the worker its slave. The supermarkets that rely on just in time shelf filling rather than holding buffer stocks are incredibly profitable companies. They can well afford to operate a humanized supply chain. They should do so quickly otherwise the GMB will ensure that the shelves do not get filled.”
It is estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 workers in the UK are currently subject to electronic tagging.
The union claims that workers are in revolt over the issue, with labour turnover in some warehouses exceeding 300 per cent.
But, firms which manufactures the devices claim that improvements can be seen in both efficiency and staff morale.
