COVID-19: GMB London Calls on Bakkavor to Improve Sick Pay for Self-isolated Staff and Reorganize Production

GMB London, the union for food workers, is calling on senior directors of Bakkavor, the suppliers of pre-prepared foods (including desserts, pizza, and bread) to the UK food retailers to revise upwards the level of sick pay being paid to key worker staff forced to self-isolate during the public health emergency. 

The union is also asking Bakkavor management to radically reorganizer production methods and schedules to make London food plants compliant with social distancing rules for safe operations. 

GMB members in the plants in West and North London and elsewhere are deeply concerned over the inadequate level of company sick pay provisions being offered to staff self-isolating. 

Workers at Bakkavor are classified as key workers by the UK Government as food production is an essential industry to keep supermarkets shelves full. 80% of the company’s business is in the UK. 

Andre Marques, GMB London regional officer said: “Since the outbreak of this COVID-19 pandemic, GMB have been requesting information about what support they will be offering their members working at the Bakkavor Meals in London”. 

GMB London has been calling for Bakkavor at this unprecedented time of difficulty to provide members with temporary enhanced company sick pay. This is to ensure those who need to self-isolate do not suffer financial detriment for doing so. 

GMB said any businesses that fall within the key workers’ category must go above and beyond statutory requirements for their workforce. “So it is very disappointing to learn that Bakkavor’s Company sick pay falls woefully short of GMB members’ expectations to support them through this crisis if they fall sick. Employees with less than 5 years of service will only receive two weeks of company sick pay, whilst those with more will receive 4 weeks. They then would have to rely on statutory sick pay for the remaining period of isolation,” according to a statement. 

GMB members employed by Bakkavor are key workers and require and deserve much more, according to the union. 

Unless sick pay is improved, Bakkavor will force staff to work putting fellow workers and the public at risk or going without enough money. The government has set out within its COVID-19 disruption package, generous financial options for employers such as Bakkavor to support their workforce. 

Reorganizing Production

On the other hand, GMB London is calling on Bakkavor management at west and north London prepared food plants to radically reorganize production methods and line speeds to make the plants compliant with social distancing rules for the safety of the workforce and the general public. The health emergency will last for some time so there is no alternative  for the safety of the workforce and the general public, the union said. 

GMB recognises that this reorganisation will slow down the production process but like in the supermarkets at the other end of the food chain there is no alternative. 

Andre Marques, GMB London Region Officer said: “GMB members at Bakkavor meals London are reporting no social distancing measures and no other safety measures for the production line are put in place as part of safe operation of the plant which mean the workers are forced to work in crowded conditions”. 

Those members working in the  Bakkavor sites consider that Government guidelines with regards to social distancing are being completely ignored and disregarded. This is not acceptable to GMB members. 

GMB  London will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our approach to managing this crisis as and when required in this unprecedented time.