Final efforts to end the pay dispute at 2 Sisters Food Group’s Gunstones bakery in Sheffield will take place next week.
According to sister publication FoodManufacture.co.uk, union officials from the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) will meet with management on June 30 in last-ditch attempts to agree staff pay.
This follows a 48-strike last week (June 15-16), which saw around 90 bakery workers on the picket line outside the Gunstones site. According to the union, management enforced a pay-freeze at the site, despite previous talks of pay rises. The bakery has said its priority is the future of those who work at the site.
Should an agreement not be made, further strikes are planned to take place over July 17-18, organised by the union.
John Higgins, full time BFAWU officer told British Baker: “We have been told that management would like to meet with us on Tuesday to discuss a way forward.
"I hope that the company sees sense and brings a pay rise up to the table, but I don’t know what will happen.
"People don’t realise that people at the bakery are earning less than £7 an hour, and it takes a long time to earn that money back when they do go on strike. It’s something we try to avoid but people are so fed up with management."
A spokesperson from Gunstones Bakery said: "We are keen to continue meaningful talks with colleagues and their Union representatives so that we can reach a mutually satisfactory conclusion. We hope that further industrial action can be avoided whilst talks are ongoing.
"We appreciate that this is a difficult time for those involved. However, our number one priority is securing a better future for everyone at site."
The bakery manufactures bread rolls, hot cross buns, iced buns and garlic bread.
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