Unite and GMB unions claimed Bidfood, which supplies a variety of hospitality firms including Oakman Inns and Brewhouse & Kitchen, “derecognised” their organisations on Friday 17 January.
The trade unions said the food distributor “tore up a longstanding recognition agreement” that had been in place for more than 30 years without warning members, adding industrial action was “probable”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Bidfood is guilty of union busting pure and simple and Unite will not tolerate such behaviour at any level.
“Unite’s focus is always on defending its members and Bidfood needs to reverse its perverse decision or face the inevitable consequences.”
GMB also claimed members working at Bidfood had been derecognised and that employees were now at risk of “fire and rehire”.
Fostering mistrust
However, Bidfood has refuted these accusations, labelling them “untrue” and an attempt to “foster mistrust”.
A spokesperson for Bidfood told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “Following these untrue claims, we want to make it clear this decision is in no way a ‘precursor to attacks on employees’ pay and conditions’ and we have no plans to do so.
“It’s disappointing to see this attempt to foster mistrust and doubt among our employees and further cements our view that this is not the collaborative approach we aspired to have between ourselves and the trade unions.”
The spokesperson added the decision has not been made “lightly” and explained the Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU) had not been “reflective of the interest of the majority of employees” in recent years.
“Therefore, it is not fully representative of those working within our transport and warehouse roles.
“We believe in order to best represent and support our employees, it’s important for us to work with our teams directly through our already established Employee Engagement Forums, which represent a wider range of employees’ views across all sites and are a more agile, effective and collaborative way to listen, discuss and resolve matters”, they continued.
Unite added most of its members were based at Bidfood’s depots in Battersea, Birmingham, Plymouth and Salisbury.
Cancelled deliveries
“Bidfood’s actions are disgraceful and Unite is considering all options about how to respond including industrial action.
“The company’s clients will be alarmed they could be facing a spring of cancelled deliveries, due to industrial action and should be demanding to know exactly what Bidfood is playing at”, Unite national officer Adrian Jones said.
GMB Union also asserted the next steps for its members would “likely include a strike vote”.
GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said: “GMB, Unite and Bidfood have successfully worked together to improve workers’ pay, terms and conditions since at least the 1990s.
“Our members work hard delivering vital food supplies for the army, prisons and schools across the UK. They deserve the protections union recognition brings.
“Without us, bosses will be able to do what they want, ripping up their contracts and enforcing worse terms and conditions.
“Bidfood faces becoming P&O on the road and GMB members won’t stand for it. All options are open, including an industrial action vote.”
