More than 700 workers at Bakkavor’s site in Spalding, Lincolnshire are set to strike later this month in protest over pay.
Members of Unite the Union who work at the factory – which produces desserts, pizza, bread, salads, and more for retailers including Tesco, M&S, and Waitrose – will take part in continuous strike action from Friday 27 September.
This is after they ‘overwhelmingly’ rejected a pay offer described by the union as 6% that was made in May.
However, the manufacturer has expressed its disappointment that Unite lobbied members (which represent around half of the workforce at the site) and claims the proposed increase was 7.8% to its lowest paid colleagues and 6.4% across all other grades. It added that this was ‘even more disappointing’ given that negotiations have been successfully concluded across its 20 other UK sites.
Commenting on the decision to trigger strike action, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Bakkavor has built a highly profitable business on the backs of workers and yet fails to recognise their hard work in incredibly tough working conditions.
“Our members are rightly angry after years of below-inflation pay rises, the most recent offer is an insult. Bakkavor needs to rapidly think again and come back with an improved pay deal.”
The business said proposed entry rates (inclusive of paid breaks) range from £12.43 to £13.02 depending on the shift pattern, with the top rates ranging from £14.17 to £14.85. This offer, it added, is highly competitive, well-ahead of inflation of 2.2% and the National Living Wage of £11.44.
However, Unite regional officer Sam Hennessy believed the business to be “stalling and refusing to negotiate constructively and take an approach of ’my way or the highway’”.
“Strike action will inevitably cause disruption and shortages to supermarkets across the UK but this dispute is entirely of Bakkavor’s own making. We urge Bakkavor to listen to the concerns of its staff and provide them with an improved and fair pay offer before strike action starts this month,” Hennessy added.
Bakkavor is hopeful that the proposed industrial action will be called off but reassured that should it go ahead, it has worked with customers and has put detailed contingency plans in place.
Sadie Woodhouse, general manager at Bakkavor Spalding said the business was “clearly disappointed that the Union has advocated strike action despite our efforts to positively negotiate with them and us putting a good deal on the table, well above inflation and national living wage.
“We respect the role that unions play generally in protecting workers’ rights. However, it makes no sense for a union to call for a strike against a business that is already looking after its people, creating employment in the local community, investing in training and putting forward above-inflation pay rises,” Woodhouse added.
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