Man faces sack for food bin 'theft'

A SUPERMARKET worker has been threatened with dismissal for taking fruit and veg from the shop's bins to feed his family.

The 59-year-old man, who has worked at a Monoprix store in Marseille on the minimum wage for the past eight years, has been suspended pending an investigation.

The father of six had taken two discarded packs of pre-prepared salad and six melons from the bins at the back of store. He was spotted by a manager, who called the police.

The produce had been withdrawn from sale and would have been thrown out, but was still in good condition.

A company spokesman said staff rules prevented workers from taking items from the store: whether it was on a shelf or in a bin.

He said it was standard procedure for the employee to be suspended pending further investigations. The worker has been called to a meeting with bosses on Monday.

The supermarket's CGT union representative said the shop's actions were "scandalous" and "disproportionate".

Workers have held protests outside the supermarket to support their colleague, who is two years from retirement age.

Photo: Vincent Desjardins/Flickr