Over 700 workers at a factory which makes own-brand products for supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury’s Morrisons, and M&S are set to strike for five weeks in a dispute over pay.

Employees at the Bakkavor food manufacturing plant based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, have currently rejected a 6.5% pay offer.

As a result, the factory workers, which produce own-brand sauces, soups and deli products will now strike between 25 November until 2 January, impacting supplies before the festive period.

According to Unite the union, this amounted to a “substantial pay cut” as the RPI rate of inflation is now 14.2%.
Over 700 workers at a factory which makes own-brand products for supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury’s Morrisons, M&S and Sainsbury’s are set to strike for five weeks in a dispute over pay.

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Employees at the Bakkavor food manufacturing plant based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, have currently rejected a 6.5% pay offer.

As a result, the factory workers, which produce own-brand sauces, soups and deli products will now strike between 25 November until 2 January, impacting supplies before the festive period.

According to Unite the union, this amounted to a “substantial pay cut” as the RPI rate of inflation is now 14.2%.

Currently, employees at the plant earn just 1p over the national minimum wage, with some being forced to use food banks, despite the trade union stating that the parent company of Bakkavor posted a 22% increase in adjusted operating profits to £102 million for 2021.

“The situation these workers face is exactly what is wrong with Britain’s economy today: A company earning millions and millions in profits expecting already low paid workers to take a pay cut while prices soar.

“Unite will not tolerate attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and our Bakkavor members have the union’s complete backing as they strike for a better deal,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

However, according to The Guardian, Bakkavor claims to be “disappointed” that industrial action was taking place, stating that its pay offer was “competitive in the local market”

Unite regional officer Ravinder Assi added: “Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S all have a case to answer if they do not pressure Bakkavor to use some of its massive profits to give these workers a proper pay rise.

“Supermarket customers will be appalled to know that the own-brand goods they are buying are made by supply chain workers who are being treated so disgracefully. Bakkavor can well afford to put forward an offer our members can accept and needs to do so.”