Bidfood warehouse workers to vote on strike action over pay offer

Bidfood warehouse workers are set to be balloted on industrial action after pay negotiations broke down.

The Unite and GMB unions rejected the wholesaler’s £12.50 per hour pay offer and are preparing options for a jointly coordinated industrial action ballot.

GMB told its members that Bidfood “has decided to stop negotiating with the joint trade unions and has even gone so far as to rule out going into mediation at ACAS”.

The unions wrote to Maria Eagle MP, one of the ministers covering the Ministry of Defence, to highlight the issue. Bidfood supplies the ‘deployable food’ contract for the MOD, providing ‘food supply solutions’ for the army, both domestically and abroad.

The letter said:  “Our members are the drivers and warehouse pickers that ensure this food gets to our armed forces; they are integral to the defence supply chain.

“GMB and Unite are currently in dispute with Bidfood over pay. Our members have jointly rejected a pay offer of a 50p per hour increase.

“The specific issue for the joint trade unions – and for a Labour government committed to delivering for working people – is one of poverty pay rates for our members working in the Bidfood warehouses and in the MOD supply chain.

“Ten warehouses across the country would have a new rate of pay of £12:50 per hour. This is simply not enough to maintain a positive differential with the National Minimum Wage.

“Bidfood posted an operating profit of £57 million in 2023, they paid £18 million in dividends and reported strong revenue growth. They can afford to do better for the workers keeping our armed forces fed. We would like the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the issue of poverty pay in the current supply chain and how this relates to future procurement strategies for defence.”

Bidfood has not yet commented on the dispute.