feature Changing lives
n By Keith Hatch
From shop floor to Council Chamber
Soup line leader Amanda elected to EC
A food production worker from Spalding has recently been elected as the food, drink and agriculture sector delegate to the Unite Executive Council.
Amanda Antoniades works as a line leader packing soups and sauces at Bakkavor and is an experienced rep, who is looking forward to taking members’ concerns from the factory floor to the EC.
Amanda understands members’ concerns, having worked for years in the food sector, regularly getting up at 5 am to start a 12-hour shift. First and foremost Amanda is a rep and recently she attended a series of highly successful pay negotiations at the food producer.
In November 2022 strike action was planned by more than 700 workers at the factory in Spalding, but was suspended following a revised pay offer negotiated by Amanda and reps at Bakkavor.
Amanda explained. “I was involved in pay talks which nearly resulted in a strike. This went on for a considerable time, having meetings with management, calling in Acas. This resulted in the management giving us the highest pay deal ever in Bakkavor history.”
Amanda now wants to bring her workplace experience to the EC, saying, “I can bring a voice from the shop floor into the Executive Council. My priorities as an EC member for the FDA sector is to make it clear that our members have a voice.”
As a new member Amanda says she is, “not sure what to expect from being on the EC, but it seems very interesting”.
She also aims to use the opportunity to talk to her members about the Council and pledged to hold all member meetings four times a year “where anyone from our sector will be able to ask questions and get straightforward answers.
“It will be interesting to explain the EC to colleagues working on the shop floor what the EC is and what they do. Most of my colleagues didn’t even know.”
Bev Clarkson welcomed Amanda to the EC, saying, “I would like to
11 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2024
take this opportunity to congratulate Amanda and look forward to working with her and Matt Gould as the FDA delegates on the Executive Council in the future. I am sure that her years of factory floor experience in food manufacturing will highlight the importance of the sector and be of benefit to the EC.”
Away from the busy world of work and supporting members as a rep and EC member Amanda still hopes to find time to relax and unwind. She says, “Having a large family I like to meet up with them and my grandchildren. Also I like to walk and listen to music.”
Landworker wishes Amanda every success. Ed
Mark Thomas
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