Unite said that more than 700 workers are currently taking part in continuous strike action at a Bakkavor production plant in Spalding, Lincolnshire, although Bakkavor has disputed that and said only 450 employees are not attending work.
The strikes were launched in September of this year after staff rejected a pay rise offered by Bakkavor, with Unite reporting that most workers are paid £11.54 an hour.
The protests took place on 6 November at the headquarters of a holding company owned by Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson in Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as outside their houses and at a film school owned by one of the brothers.
The Gudmundsson’s own half of Bakkavor shares, a food manufacturer that produces meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for major UK retailers.
In addition to Unite, representatives from Icelandic trade union Efling joined the protests, handed out leaflets and projected images onto the sides of buildings.
Unite will ‘not relent’
“Bakkavor is an incredibly profitable company and has paid out millions to the Gudmundsson brothers and other shareholders,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“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.”
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.”
Bakkavor responds
Donna-Maria Lee, chief people officer at Bakkavor, commented: “It is now six weeks since Unite the Union commenced strike action with a minority of our Spalding colleagues. It is now clear to us that it is becoming increasingly difficult to resolve this dispute with Unite and get people back to work anytime soon.
"We have engaged the union in discussions since the start, and our CEO met with them recently out of a genuine desire to resolve the issue. Whilst a material discretionary bonus (of £350 per person) and an above inflation pay rise have been tabled for Spalding colleagues, the Union has now advised us that they have put it to ballot, with a recommendation to reject our offer.
"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."
In other news, KP Snacks has agreed to acquire Whole Earth Foods from Ecotone.
