Bakkavor food manufacturer made £100 million profits but minimum wage workers offered pay cut

More than 700 workers at Bakkavor’s food manufacturing factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, will strike over poverty pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday).

The production line operatives, who make own brand soups, sauces and deli produce for major supermarkets, will strike from 1 November to 9 November. More strikes will 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 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.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.