[UK] Poverty pay strikes at food manufacturer supplying supermarket giants

On October 18, Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced that more than 700 workers at Bakkavor’s food manufacturing factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, will strike over poverty pay, Unite the Union reports.

The production line operatives make own-brand soups, sauces and deli produce for several major supermarkets. The workers will strike from November 1 to November 9 and further strikes will reportedly be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved.

The workers - many of whom earn just 1p over the national minimum wage - have rejected a 6.5 per cent pay offer and are demanding a rise that reflects rising living costs.

In March, Bakkavor announced that its adjusted operating profits for 2021 had increased by 22 per cent, to £102 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Bakkavor is a hugely profitable company but is happy to cut workers’ wages during one of the worst economic crises in living memory. Our members are rightly angry that their employer, who can pay and should pay, is refusing to give them a fair slice of the pie. We will be supporting our members 100 per cent as they strike for a fair pay rise.”

The strikes will reportedly impact own-brand food products for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer.

Unite regional officer Ravinder Assi said, “The company’s refusal to provide a reasonable offer despite its monster profits should be a wake-up call for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S. Quite frankly, they should be ashamed that workers making products that bear their brands are being treated so disgracefully. Bakkavor must put forward an offer our members can accept and the supermarkets should be pressuring the company into doing so.”

Source: Unite the Union

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

On October 18, Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced that more than 700 workers at Bakkavor’s food manufacturing factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, will strike over poverty pay, Unite the Union reports.

The production line operatives make own-brand soups, sauces and deli produce for several major supermarkets. The workers will strike from November 1 to November 9 and further strikes will reportedly be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved.

The workers - many of whom earn just 1p over the national minimum wage - have rejected a 6.5 per cent pay offer and are demanding a rise that reflects rising living costs.

In March, Bakkavor announced that its adjusted operating profits for 2021 had increased by 22 per cent, to £102 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Bakkavor is a hugely profitable company but is happy to cut workers’ wages during one of the worst economic crises in living memory. Our members are rightly angry that their employer, who can pay and should pay, is refusing to give them a fair slice of the pie. We will be supporting our members 100 per cent as they strike for a fair pay rise.”

The strikes will reportedly impact own-brand food products for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer.

Unite regional officer Ravinder Assi said, “The company’s refusal to provide a reasonable offer despite its monster profits should be a wake-up call for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S. Quite frankly, they should be ashamed that workers making products that bear their brands are being treated so disgracefully. Bakkavor must put forward an offer our members can accept and the supermarkets should be pressuring the company into doing so.”

Source: Unite the Union

(Link and quotes via original reporting)