Hundreds of workers employed by Bakkavor at five local factories have been given a pay rise after the food manufacturer was threatened with strike action.
Unite the union was preparing to ballot for industrial action after Bakkavor had introduced a £250 extra payment to new starters once they had completed 16 weeks of work, while refusing to make a similar incentive payment to its existing workforce.
Bakkavor returned to negotiations and permanent pay increases of between one and eight percent were agreed - depending on roles and previous pay rates for workers at four of the sites: Bakkavor Desserts in Newark, Bakkavor Pizza in Holbeach, Bakkavor Salad in Bourne and Bakkavor Meals in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a highly important deal for Unite’s members at Bakkavor who, by standing together, have secured permanent pay rises for all workers.
“Unite is absolutely committed to defend the jobs, pay and conditions of all its members and this result for workers at Bakkavor, many of whom are low paid, demonstrates our commitment in action.”
Workers at a fifth site Bakkavor Foods in West March Road, Spalding, already received a higher rate of pay than the other factories and in this case Unite was able to negotiate a £100 one off payment to all hourly paid workers.
As a result of the agreement on pay the £250 starter rate payment has been withdrawn with immediate effect.
Unite regional officer Neelam Verma said: “Credit must go to our members at Bakkavor, who made it entirely clear that they were not going to accept the introduction of unfair starter rates, which failed to value the existing workforce.
“Once Bakkavor realised the level of anger on the shop floor, it returned to the negotiating table and agreed the improved pay rates. Unite will continue to work with its members to ensure that pay rates are further increased in the future.”
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