n By Hajera Blagg


Landworker heard from Unite rep Cameron Green, who told us just how frustrating it was that management is refusing to negotiate.


“We are continuing our strike action, and they keep saying they’re open to negotiating but they’re not moving on headline rates of pay – that’s not negotiating, plain and simple. They haven’t put forward any serious new offer since May when this dispute began,” Cameron said.


Cameron noted that the entire Bakkavor factory is practically built on low pay, with the lowest two grades on-site on or barely above the minimum wage.


“But it’s not just people who are on the lowest grades who are struggling – it’s the entire site, with pay being continuously squashed by well below- inflation pay rises, which are in essence pay cuts,” he explained.


“We know that some members have had to resort to food banks to feed their families, and we know of others who sleep in their cars,” Cameron went on to say. “This a highly profitable company that’s continuing to reap the rewards on the backs of these workers who are struggling to survive.”


As of writing, the Bakkavor workers have been on all-out continuous strike action for three weeks – and their resolve has only strengthened with each passing day, Cameron reported.


“We’ve seen massive support for strike action. They’re all focused on one


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These workers were producing food during the pandemic. Two workers died. You’ve got a situation now where this company has made £55m in profit already this year, and they will not give these workers a proper pay rise. It’s unacceptable. They need to do the right thing


Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary 15 uniteLANDWORKER Autumn 2024


common goal – fighting for fair pay for food workers. So far the picket line has been very strong – everyone is determined to continue fighting come what may.”


Cameron highlighted that Bakkavor workers are standing united with food manufacturing workers across the country – including Oscar Mayer workers who are also now on strike.


“We were the food heroes during the pandemic, and now all of that has been forgotten about,” he said. “They’re now treating us like food zeroes, and we won’t stand for it.”


Cameron spoke to Landworker as Unite general secretary Sharon Graham visited the Bakkavor picket line in mid-September.


Speaking ahead of her visit, the general secretary said, “Bakkavor has built a highly profitable business on the backs of workers and yet fails to recognise their hard work in incredibly tough working conditions.


“Our members are rightly angry after years of below-inflation pay rises, the most recent offer is an insult. Bakkavor needs to rapidly think again and come back with an improved pay deal.”


Like Cameron, she highlighted just how vital these food workers’ jobs are.


Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, the general secretary noted, “These workers were out producing food during the Covid pandemic. Two


workers employed by this company died. You’ve got a situation now where this company has made £55m in profit, already this year before Christmas, and they will not give these workers a proper pay rise. It’s unacceptable, and they need to do the right thing.”


Unite regional officer Sam Hennessy told Landworker that the general secretary’s visit drew “an enormous crowd”, adding that there were well over one hundred people in attendance.


“She made some really positive comments about taking on the company, and what the next steps are in terms of escalating this dispute,” he said. “She’s committed to contacting the CEO of the company and putting them on notice that if they don’t resolve this, then Unite will be contacting M&S and other supermarkets and so will put pressure on their client base as well.”


Indeed, the general secretary emphasised that Unite will use every tool in its arsenal to win this dispute.


“Bakkavor is a classic example of a company that can fully afford to pay its workers fairly but is choosing not to,” she said. “This is simply about greed not need.


“The company should be in no doubt that the union’s laser like focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of members means that Unite’s support for the workforce is unconditional.”


‘‘


Mark Thomas


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