Unite takes up John Key's challenge to name and shame bad employers.

Recently the prime minister requested unions to directly name and shame bad employers who act badly against their employees. Unite and the rest of the trade union movement is taking up the challenge.

A special direct action group called the UTU Squad is picketing the Mission Bay Burger Fuel store on Friday from 12-2pm to protest the sacking of a worker on the 89th day of her employment.

Joanne Bartlett's dismissal came a few days after she had asked for more than a single 10 minute lunch break each day she had been receiving for an 8 hour shift. Ms Bartlett had consistently received the highest grades in Burger Fuel's training programme and had culinary school qualifications. She had also worked extra shifts when requested. No reason was given for the dismissal.

The UTU Squad has been formed by Unite because they believe justice for workers needs a group willing to take direct action against bad employers to uphold workers rights.

"If the government takes away workers' rights to use legal means to protect themselves from unjust actions like this then workers have to go back to the tradition of direct action as the only way left to support workers like Joanne", says Mike Treen Unite national Director.