Angry workers from Bakkavor march into Spalding town centre

Hundreds of frustrated striking workers marched through the town centre as their dispute with factory bosses over staff pay continues.

Members of the public, families and workers at the Bakkavor site, in Spalding, congregated and marched from the West Marsh Road site into town today (Tuesday, October 22), to generate community support.

Unite’s regional officer, Sam Hennessy, said: “The company is not willing to give workers the raise they deserve and a lot of families and great people are being affected.

“We have received a lot of positive support from the public, and many people have given us donations of food and money for the cause.

“Our members will be making their voices heard and showing how angry they are at Bakkavor’s paltry pay offer. The procession through Spalding is aimed at generating further community support for our members.”

Bakkavor employees in Spalding have been on strike since September 27 after rejecting a pay offer.

Staff have been seen outside the West Marsh Road site on a daily basis, waving flags and sounding horns to passing drivers.

One Bakkavor worker who has been at the company for eight years said: “It’s been an issue for a long time. The company have a lot of money and more than three years ago when the union wasn’t as developed, Bakkavor was offering us just 1.6% pay rise.

“We have come here today to support everyone and we will do whatever it takes – we’ll do anything.”

Another Bakkavor employer who also wished to be anonymous, has worked for the company for six years, they said: “I don’t want to lose my job, I just want more money – fair money.

“A lot of our work is hard labour and people can just die with the click of a finger because of all the heavy machinery – I think we deserve it if we are doing that kind of work.

One worker who has been at the site for 13 years said: “We just want the company to help us and we will get our fair pay rise because we deserve it.

“I don’t feel supported by Bakkavor. I have worked here for 13 years and have given them a lot of my time.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham visited the picket line on Wednesday, October 16, to give workers a morale boost in their dispute.

She said:“Bakkavor continues with its tone-deaf approach to this dispute. A company that makes huge profits from workers in their community yet refuses to pay them a fair wage.

“If the company thinks our members will go quietly and give in they have another thing coming. Bakkavor will be facing the full force of Unite.”

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

The strikes are affecting Bakkavor’s customers with empty shelves being reported as production lines can no longer cope with orders. As the strike continues, the situation will continue to get worse for the big supermarkets and high street stores.

The workers, who are required to operate for long shifts in cold temperatures, have previously rejected a pay offer of six per cent.

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