On the Sandwich Chain Gang

By Jane Holgate

The sandwich industry has become a global business with an expanding market thought to be worth about $US50billion a year.

In the UK sandwich factories employ between 500 and 1500 workers per site to make sandwiches that are identical from London to Lancashire. The work is monotonous, boring and very cold. With one 45 minute break and another of 10 minutes, production staff have to stand in cold conditions for 7 hours or more. At the end of a shift they are exhausted, but as the wages are low many then go to a second job. Sandwiches are made to be ready in the morning so they finish work at dawn.

Red Pepper. no 111, September 2003