Union members at Park Cakes are currently being balloted for industrial action, following a dispute over pay.

Roy Streeter, regional officer at the Bakers Food and Allied Worker’s Union (BFAWU), told British Baker that his members – around 700 across the business – were due an annual pay rise on the last Sunday in March.

“The company said that it was unable to give an increase then, but would revisit the issue later on in the year. Our members rejected that decision, and they have now said it will revisit it in September.

“The problem we have is that all they’re saying is that they will revisit it, they are not saying that there will be an increase, and they’re not saying that it will be back-dated.

“We’re having to put something in place to protect our members’ interests,” he added.

The ballot will take place over two weeks, with the result expected on 20 August.

Anne Allen, chief executive of Park Cake Bakeries, said: “We are committed to constructive engagement with our employees at a time when the cake and dessert industry continues to face competitive and pricing pressure.

“We are working to manage these pressures while continuing to deliver high-quality, affordable products to our customers and support growth and jobs over the long-term.”

The company declined to comment on the details of the pay dispute.

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