“Cuts to our training rates, compassionate leave slashed, bereavement leave cut, they only make Overtime payments to a certain few in the workforce and they consolidated shift payments to get round the minimum wage.”
By the BFAWU Branch 432
Members of BFAWU employed at Allied Bakeries Liverpool feel that after nearly 12 months of pay negotiations, they have no choice but to strike.
We had hoped for a reasonable settlement and recognition for the tough times our members are facing but alas that has not been the case, it’s been hard work to get anything near a decent proposal from the company. So much so that workers have taken part in numerous pay ballots, which have failed to meet their minimum requests, so the workforce has overwhelmingly rejected them. Also, whilst the consolidated rate may appear to meet the national minimum wage when you break it down as an hourly rate and what used to be recognised as the unsociable hour’s shift premium for working shifts, weekends, nights, and bank holidays this is not the case.
We have been left with no option but to take industrial action. The company’s offers do not meet our needs in the worst cost of living crisis in our generation.
We worked through the covid pandemic in difficult working conditions, classed as essential workers, keeping the site open feeding the nation with above-average performances said another.
Allied bakeries and its parent company ABF boast about their successful increases in profits and rewards for its shareholders. It talks of investing in its future, despite a £17 billion in revenue.
In recent years it’s been cuts, cuts to our training rates, compassionate leave slashed, bereavement leave cut, they only make Overtime payments to a certain few in the workforce and they consolidated shift payments to get round the minimum wage. There has been no investment in us, and we have had enough.
A recently released report about the shocking situation those in the food industry face; whilst employers see considerable increases in their profits and can protect themselves from cost increases through price increases, this is not the case for those that work in the industry the report showed the only growth is in workers forced to use foodbanks increasing from 7.5% during the pandemic to more than 17.5% now.
If the food sector does not address this inequality and the desperate situation of those working in it, they will soon find it even more challenging to recruit.
- You can donate to the Kingsmill Bakers’ strike fund here.
- You can show your support for striking Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) members on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
