MORE than 80 workers are set to take a meat processing plant to tribunal over claims they were docked pay to go to the toilet, according to union leaders.

The Unite union said 86 employees at Dunbia in Gisburn Road, Sawley, have raised grievances over a policy that means staff have to clock in and out to use the toilet.

Solicitors are now ploughing through the claims to see how many can proceed to tribunal.

It is understood that the complaints could fall into two categories.

Employees, represented by Unite, could claim for unlawful deduction because of money docked from salaries while they go to the toilet.

That could also mean that some pay packets dipped below the legal minimum wage, said Unite.

Unite regional officer Cathy Rudderforth said: “At the moment, every time staff go to the toilet it takes them 15 minutes because they have to clock out and go through all the hygiene checks.

“I have not heard any of anybody else doing this, even other food production firms.

“We have had meetings and we have found 86 people who want to raise it as a grievance.

“If Dunbia’s system was about stopping people abusing system that would be fair enough, but to penalise everyone does not make sense.”

The cases could all be heard at one tribunal held next year, said Mrs Rudderforth.

Dunbia, which was founded in Dungannon, Northern Ireland in 1976 and currently has 10 sites across the UK.

A Dunbia spokeswoman said: “Dunbia takes the views and welfare of its employees very seriously and last year voluntarily undertook an ethical audit showing Dunbia to comply with Sedex ethical trading standards.

“Dunbia is fully committed to ensuring all employees are treated fairly and has well established procedures in place to resolve any issues raised by staff.”

Unite’s dispute with Dunbia began last November when it said 100 workers had provided evidence that their wages were cut every time they went to the toilet.

Dunbia said employees were paid an additional allowance to top up their salaries.