Mike Edwards, CEO of food manufacturer Bakkavor, has stated that Unite the Union had been “encouraging its members to maintain strike action”, calling the action “disruptive”.
Edwards also highlighted that as part of its package of support for colleagues, Bakkavor has “successfully implemented pay rises for its colleagues” which have been warmly welcomed across 20 of its UK sites.
Bakkavor said its improved pay offer to Spalding colleagues amounted to a 7.8% increase to its lowest paid colleagues, 6.4% across all other grades. In addition, a discretionary £350 per head bonus was available until the New Year.
CEO says company has put forward “good pay offer”
Reflecting on this period of industrial action at Spalding, Mike Edwards, CEO at Bakkavor, commented: “We are disappointed that Unite the Union has been so disruptive. They have repeatedly made emotive claims about the strength of our pay offer which are based on false or misrepresented information – as was the inaccurate and sensational dossier they prepared on claimed product shortages, which featured products we don’t even make – as well as products that, in truth, are readily available on supermarket shelves nationwide. Set against these attempts to damage our business, we have put forward a good pay offer to our colleagues.
“Add to this, in the last few days, Unite claimed we do not have the right to present our Spalding colleagues with the increases to rates of pay and the bonus on an individual basis. Once again the misguided behaviour of the Union has no substance. An impasse (‘failure to agree’) was reached following Unite’s actions, when they advised its members to reject our improved and final pay offer and bonus – effectively preventing the industrial action from ending sensibly.
“Set against these attempts to damage our business, we have put forward a good pay offer to our colleagues. Further, 2024 has seen record levels of employee engagement and staff retention – and our Long Service Awards have celebrated the careers of thousands of colleagues that have chosen to spend between five and 30 years with the business. This tells its own story.
“Pleasingly, common sense does seem to be prevailing. The majority of Spalding colleagues are taking no part in the strike and colleagues from other Bakkavor sites have volunteered to support the Spalding team to ensure disruption is minimised.”
Edwards said that over 800 Spalding colleagues had accepted and welcomed Bakkavor’s pay offer, with some of the strikers choosing to end their dispute.
He added: “We are pleased that colleagues across 20 of our sites warmly welcomed their pay rises this year and, despite Union efforts to fuel disruption at Spalding, the majority of our colleagues are reporting to work as usual and have also accepted our proposed pay deal.”
