Bakkavor workers at a plant in the UK are preparing strike action in protest of a “derisory pay offer”, according to a trade union.
More than 700 members of the Unite union will be taking part in continuous strike action from 27 September at the site in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
The employees make and prepare meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for retailers including Tesco and Waitrose.
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.”
Just Food has contacted Bakkavor for comment.
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Unite said its members rejected a 6% pay increase that was offered in May.
Sam Hennessy, Unite regional officer, said: “Bakkavor is 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.”
Earlier this month, Bakkavor revealed it had proposed the closure of a factory in Wigan that employs around 750 people.
The prepared-foods business said its Bakkavor Meals site in Ince in north-west England is unprofitable and would require “significant investment”.
A Bakkavor spokesperson said: “We’ve undertaken a thorough review of options and despite our best efforts it has not been possible to find a viable solution. Furthermore, we believe there is no realistic prospect of being able to do so in the foreseeable future.”
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