Strikes at Bakkavor in Spalding will continue ‘indefinitely’ a union has said after its latest ballot of members.
Hundreds of workers have been on strike since September and Unite the Union say following a re-ballot, they voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to continue it.
Unite has not revealed the full result of the ballot, nor how many took part in the latest vote.
A spokesman for Unite said: “Bakkavor’s customers, major UK supermarkets like Waitrose, M&S and Tesco are seeing a shortage of products like dips and soups on their shelves. Shortages are expected to worsen as more and more workers join Unite and take to the picket line.
“The workers have seen their pay decrease by 10.6 per cent in real terms over the last three years. Unite members are demanding a pay rise of 81 pence an hour on average. This amounts to just two per cent of Bakkavor’s profits.
“Unite is also pursuing the owners and investors of Bakkavor and has taken protests to Iceland and Austria in recent weeks to highlight the poverty pay of its members.”
Unite said around 750 people initially took part in strike action, though Bakkavor say the figure was lower and that some have returned to work.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “If Bakkavor thought they could just hold out a bit longer and our members would go back to work with their tails between their legs they have another thing coming.
“Hundreds of our members voted overwhelmingly for further strike action and they will have the full backing of Unite as they continue their fight for fair pay.”
Unite regional officer Sam Hennessey added: “Bakkavor continue to let down the communities they have built their business on.
“This is a dispute of their own making and the people of Spalding know they could resolve it with a stroke of pen and by paying a fair wage.
“Our members are absolutely resolute in their fight and the vote for further strikes means Bakkavor will continue to let down its customers for the foreseeable future.”
A spokesman for Bakkabor said: “Despite Unite the Union’s recommendation that its members reject our pay deal and their recent ballot to extend strike action, the majority of our Spalding colleagues are reporting to work as usual.
“Bakkavor’s improved pay offer to Spalding colleagues amounts to a 7.8 per cent increase to our lowest paid colleagues, 6.4 per cent across all other grades. In addition to these pay rises, Bakkavor has offered its Spalding colleagues a discretionary bonus of £350 per person – this bonus offer will remain in place until January 6, 2025.
During the strike period, Bakkavor has implemented contingency plans and worked collaboratively with customers to minimise disruption. Significantly, the business has robust plans to deliver Christmas across our 21 UK sites.
Donna-Maria Lee, Chief People Officer at Bakkavor comments: “We would like to thank the majority of our colleagues at our Spalding site who have decided to take no part in strike action and have reported to work as usual throughout the period.
“Beyond the fantastic show of loyalty from our 950 colleagues in Spalding that have kept the operation rolling during the period of industrial action, colleagues from other Bakkavor sites have also volunteered to work at Spalding and, for those who have chosen to do so, there is no change to their terms and conditions.
“As a business we have a primary duty to meet the demands of our customers and the general public who buy the products we make. The show of support from colleagues at our other UK sites is welcomed and demonstrates a commitment to support our customers and working colleagues.
“We were very disappointed the union recommended its members reject the pay deal – and the rejection caused an impasse (a ‘failure to agree’).
“Since then, we have offered the increases to rates of pay and the bonus to all colleagues at Spalding on an individual basis. Already more than 740 colleagues have accepted and welcomed the offer of the new rates – including some strikers who have chosen to end their dispute with the business.
“Despite Unite claims, our pay awards at Spalding have been above inflation over the past three years – something we are proud of given very few businesses have been able to achieve this.”
