Food Manufacturer CEO Addresses Union Claims Amid Ongoing Strikes

The chief executive of a food manufacturing company has criticized a union for “encouraging” its members at its Spalding facility to continue strike action. Unite confirmed that industrial action, in the form of continuous strikes, would commence on 20 December at the Bakkavor site in Spalding, stemming from a dispute over pay. Eighty-six percent of the union’s members at the facility had voted in favor of the industrial action. In a released statement, Mike Edwards, the company’s chief executive, asserted that the union was acting in a “disruptive” manner by hindering the industrial action from “ending sensibly.” Unite’s demand is for its members to receive a “fair wage.” The BBC reached out to the union for comment regarding Mr. Edwards’ statements but has not yet received a reply. Bakkavor specializes in the production and preparation of food items like salads and ready meals, supplied to supermarkets such as Tesco, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose. The company stated that its revised pay proposal for employees at the Spalding location included a 7.8% raise for the lowest-paid staff and a 6.4% increase for all other pay grades, alongside a discretionary bonus of £350 per person accessible until the new year. Mr. Edwards stated that Unite had consistently put forth emotional assertions “about the strength of our pay offer, which are based on false or misrepresented information.” He further criticized the union’s assertion that the industrial action might result in supermarket shortages. According to Mr. Edwards, the “inaccurate and sensational dossier they prepared featured products we don’t even make.” He added, “Set against these attempts to damage our business, we have put forward a good pay offer to our colleagues.” Despite what he termed the union’s attempts to incite disruption, Mr. Edwards indicated that most employees in Spalding were not participating in the strike, with over 800 having accepted the pay offer. He further noted that this figure included some striking employees who had opted to conclude their dispute with the company. Earlier in the current month, Unite asserted that workers’ real-terms pay had declined by 10.6% over the past three years. The union is advocating for an average increase of 81p per hour. Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, previously stated: “Hundreds of our members voted overwhelmingly for further strike action and they will have the full backing of Unite as they continue their fight for fair pay.”