Workers at Bidfood are gearing up for possible strike action after the company cut ties with their trade unions
Battersea: So, here’s the scoop. Bidfood, a big player in the food service game, just decided to stop recognizing the unions that represent its workers. This has stirred up quite a bit of trouble.
Unite, the main union in the UK, is not happy at all. They’re warning that if Bidfood doesn’t backtrack on this decision, we might see some serious strike action coming up. And honestly, it’s not just a small issue; it’s a big deal for a lot of folks.
Bidfood serves a ton of well-known clients, like schools and even Manchester United. So, if things go south, it could affect a lot of people. Last week, without any heads-up, they just dropped the recognition agreement that had been in place for over 30 years. That’s a long time!
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, called out Bidfood for what she sees as union busting. She’s made it clear that they won’t stand for this kind of behavior. Unite is all about protecting its members, and they want Bidfood to rethink this decision before things get messy.
There’s a real fear that this move could lead to cuts in pay and working conditions for the employees. Most of the Unite members work at Bidfood’s depots in various cities, including Battersea and Birmingham.
Adrian Jones, a national officer for Unite, didn’t hold back either. He said Bidfood’s actions are disgraceful and that they’re looking at all options, including going on strike. He also mentioned that clients should be worried about potential delivery issues if this escalates.
And it’s not just Unite; the GMB union, which also represents workers at Bidfood, has been derecognized too. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved.
