The ongoing strike at a Bakkavor plant threatens holiday food supplies as shortages loom.
- Workers at the Spalding facility demand wage increases beyond the current offer.
- Bakkavor faces challenges in maintaining supply chains for popular dips and sauces.
- Unite union has backed an extended strike, impacting nearly 800 workers.
- Major retailers, including Tesco and Waitrose, report diminished product availability.
The ongoing strike at Bakkavor’s Spalding plant poses a significant threat to Christmas party food supplies, with fears growing over the availability of popular products such as dips, soups, and sauces. The industrial action has now lasted nearly three months, with hundreds of workers voting to extend the strike. This decision reflects the workers’ dissatisfaction with the current wage proposal, which offers only a 10p-per-hour premium above the legal minimum wage of £11.44 for those over 21.
Almost 800 of the 1,400 workers at the Lincolnshire site are involved in the strike, all represented by the Unite union. They demand a further pay increase, arguing that Bakkavor, a financially robust company, can afford better compensation for its employees. As Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated, “Bakkavor is an incredibly wealthy company with a chief executive on a two million-plus salary. It can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase.”
As a result of the strike, Bakkavor has been forced to relocate the production of some items to its other factories. Despite these efforts, significant gaps remain on supermarket shelves, particularly affecting major retailers. Tesco, for instance, is experiencing reduced supplies of cheddar cheese and chive dip as well as carbonara sauce. Simultaneously, upmarket retailer Waitrose reports shortages of its own-label taramasalata, and beetroot and feta salad.
Bakkavor claims that contingency plans have been executed to handle these disruptions, emphasizing their commitment to delivering for the holiday season across their 21 UK sites. The company’s latest wage offer includes a 7.8% increase for their lowest-paid workers and a 6.4% increase for all other grades, along with a £350 one-off bonus.
Despite these measures, the strike’s extension and its impact on product availability continue to challenge the company. The industrial action not only strains Bakkavor’s operations but also highlights the broader tensions surrounding pay in the current economic climate.
The continued strike at Bakkavor underlines the challenges in meeting holiday demand amid ongoing labor disputes.
