Bakkavor sets the record straight following its meaningful attempt to settle the strike in Spalding

"Coupled with this, working colleagues have reported being made to feel uncomfortable by the strikers, and the Union has set out on what it describes as "an international campaign" to directly lobby our stakeholders – when the real task for them is to settle a dispute in Spalding.

"It takes both parties to engage and whilst we have sought to resolve the issue, I met with the Union this week and it is clear that Unite has little interest in moving forward with the situation at Spalding and is intent on lobbying, publicity and politics, rather than solving a strike that they called for."

Some key fact-checking on the context behind the strike:

Mike Edwards CEO at Bakkavor concludes: "In the Autumn Budget last week, the Government set out the twin aim of supporting workers and creating economic growth. We support both of these things at Bakkavor and in truth they cannot actually be separated. Our colleague pay and benefits are well above the minimum wage and ahead of inflation.

"The fact that our company's 'Long Service Awards' have celebrated more than 4,000 colleagues for milestones between 5- and 35-year periods of service over the last two years shows that people choose to stay at Bakkavor and for a length of time, which would be viewed as remarkable in many industry sectors today.

"Coupled with looking after our people, which we do, we have an obligation to be a sustainable business. Our pay deals need to be fair to colleagues across all our 21 sites. We believe the offer proposed is entirely fair based on the context in which we are operating.

"The Union has a right to campaign, but our responsibility as a business – to our colleagues, customers, shareholders and to the communities in which we are a major employer – is to be sustainable, and fair, for the long term. We have been through a global pandemic and a seismic cost-of-living crisis and managing our business well ensures we will continue to create growth – growth for the economy, job creation and training opportunities for young people across the UK.

"Our offer of a pay rise and bonus to Spalding colleagues has now gone to a union ballot and Unite are recommending their members reject it. If this happens, we will be at an impasse (a 'failure to agree') and we will work to find a way to offer the increases to rates of pay and the bonus to all colleagues at Spalding on an individual basis. If accepted by individuals, this will see new rates implemented, back pay processed and bonus paid before Christmas which is what the majority of our Spalding colleagues want."

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