Union representing Spalding’s Bakkavor workers displays its message loud and clear on buildings owned by major shareholders in Iceland

A union has taken its fight for fair pay at a factory all the way to Iceland - displaying their message loud and clear on buildings owned by major shareholders.

Unite activists and members headed to Reykjavik as part of the industrial dispute with food processing company Bakkavor.

More than 700 workers are currently taking part in continuous strike action at the Bakkavor production plant in Spalding after years of real terms pay cuts.

Bakkavor’s biggest shareholders are Icelandic tycoons Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson.

Together they own half of the shares in Bakkavor, which made £94 million in profit last year.

In the last five years it has paid out £158 million to shareholders. But most workers in Spalding are only paid £11.54 an hour, just 10 pence above the minimum wage.

The workers have seen their pay decrease by 10.6 per cent in real terms over the last three years.

Unite members are demanding a pay rise of 81 pence an hour on average. This amounts to just two per cent of Bakkavor’s profits.

Protests took place across the Icelandic capital yesterday (November 6) including at the homes of the Gudmundsson brothers, at the headquarters of their holding company and at the Icelandic film school owned by Agust.

Unite representatives were joined by comrades from the Efling Icelandic trade union as they made noisy protests, handed out leaflets and projected images onto the sides of buildings.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Bakkavor is an incredibly profitable company and has paid out millions to the Gudmundsson brothers and other shareholders.

“This is a company that is fully able to make its workers a fair pay rise but is cynically choosing not to.”

"Lydur and Agust Gudmundsson now need to get Bakkavor’s management round the negotiating table with a decent pay offer for our members.

“Until that happens there will be no hiding place for the company and its stakeholders.”

Some Bakkavor workers now depend on food banks to feed themselves and their families, due to low pay.

Bakkavor CEO Mike Edwards is paid £2.4million - 101 times more than his workers.

Unite organiser Clare Peden added: "We have come to Iceland to demand the Gudmundsson brothers use their influence to secure fair pay for Bakkavor workers in Lincolnshire.

“Unite members in Spalding feed Britain. They work long shifts, in tough conditions, and just want to be able to earn a living and support their families. Unite will not relent in our dispute with the company.”

The workforce, produce meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for the company’s customers including Tesco, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose.