Strike action planned by more than 700 workers at food manufacturer Bakkavor’s factory in Spalding has been suspended following a revised pay offer.
Strike action scheduled to begin on 25th November is to be postponed to allow workers to be balloted on the new offer. Workers had been due to strike until 2nd January following a rejection of a 6.5% pay offer, which Bakkavor had been reported as saying was “positive and sustainable.”
The revised offer is understood to be 7.5% increase in 2022 and 6% in 2023.
Unite regional officer Ravinder Assi said: “Following fresh talks a further pay offer was made. The strikes scheduled to begin on 25th November have been suspended while workers are balloted.”
The Spalding site manufacturers sauces and deli produce for Tesco, Morrisons, M&S and Sainsbury’s. It also produces own-brand soups.
A spokesperson for Bakkavor told the BBC: “It is important for us to be able to offer our colleagues a fair and sustainable pay offer, along with wider benefits.
“At the Spalding site, our most recent offer of a two-year pay deal, with a 7.5% increase in 2022 and 6.0% in 2023, is competitive with the local market and provides colleagues with certainty.
“It also allows us to focus on our operational delivery, at a time when the trading environment remains challenging and significant inflationary headwinds are persisting.”
