Unite the Union take action against major M&S Supplier

Protests outside M&S on Briggate Street are sparked after a dispute over pay for Spalding factory workers in the Midlands.

Unite the Union, better known as ‘Unite’, is a trade union well known throughout the country. Back in November, they launched large-scale protests against the government’s winter fuel cuts which have affected over a million pensioners in the UK, they were also a common sight during the higher education strikes between 2018-2023.

This week, a smaller gathering was seen outside M&S on Briggate in support of striking workers for Bakkavor Foods, one of the store’s leading food manufacturers.

Industrial action initially began in September after complaints of ‘poverty pay’ for staff, who are paid just 10p over the “National Living Wage” of £11.44. The name of this rate was of course rebranded from the “Minimum wage” by the Conservative Party in 2016. Unite has argued that wages have actually decreased by 10.6% in real terms over the previous three years.

Around 20% of the London-based company’s revenue comes from M&S, and the strikes have already caused shortages in customer favorite Taramasalta, amongst other products manufactured by Bakkavor.

Most recently, a 7.8% wage increase has been offered to its lowest paid members of staff, which has been largely rejected, although Bakkavor claim that some members have accepted this offer in private.