Striking workers at private-label supplier Bakkavor have voted to extend industrial action but others have accepted a pay offer and returned to the production line.
The walk-out at UK-headquartered Bakkavor’s manufacturing facility in Spalding, Lincolnshire, one of 21 local plants operated by the ready meals to salads and dips maker, began in late September.
Unite, the union representing staff, said today (12 December) that those remaining on strike had held a ballot and agreed to extend the dispute.
However, a spokesperson for the London-listed food manufacturer told Just Food that 950 of the 1,400 workers employed at Spalding are now “reporting to work”. Around 700 had resorted to industrial action in September.
Bakkavor, a major supplier to the likes of Tesco and Waitrose, offered a 7.8% pay increase to its “lowest paid” staff in September and a 6.4% rise across “all other grades”. That was an improvement on the across-the-board 6% pay offer rejected by Spalding staff in May.
As an added incentive, a “discretionary” bonus of £350 ($444) per person has also been offered by the company, effective to 6 January.
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“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, which also supplies pizza, soups and desserts, said in a statement today.
“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, Bakkavor’s chief people officer, said the company was “very disappointed the union recommended its members reject the pay deal – and the rejection caused an impasse (a ‘failure to agree’)”.
Lee said in November that Unite appeared to be more focused on “lobbying and publicity, and politics” than getting a pay deal done for Bakkavor workers. That prompted an accusation of “scaremongering” from the union.
Unite said today: “Hundreds of food factory workers in Lincolnshire have again voted for further strike action due to the continued failure of their employer, Bakkavor, to pay them a fair wage.
“The workers have seen their pay decrease by 10.6% in real terms over the last three years. Unite members are demanding a pay rise of 81 pence an hour on average.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham added: “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.”
Bakkavor told the BBC earlier this week that production at the Spalding factory was continuing as normal, apart from a reduced fat sour cream and chives dip.
Lee said today that staff from other Bakkavor plants had volunteered to work at the Spalding site to keep the “operation rolling”.
She added: “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.
“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.”
