Soldiers’ rations at risk as Ministry of Defense supplier employees consider strike

The delivery of rations to soldiers is at risk of being disrupted as workers at a key Ministry of Defense food supplier consider a strike.

Staff at Bidfood, which supplies meals to the armed forces, are embroiled in a dispute over a planned pay offer of £12.50 an hour.

GMB and Unite union bosses have rejected the proposal, recently writing to the Government in protest at what they claim are “poverty pay rates”.

In a letter to Maria Eagle, defense procurement minister, union leaders said the company “can afford to do better for the workers who keep our armed forces fed.”

It is understood that the prospect of strike action is being considered by unions, with the pay dispute impacting the wages of hundreds of workers across 10 Bidfood warehouses.

GMB and Unite said the 50p-an-hour pay rise offered by Bidfood was not enough, as they pointed to the fact that the company recorded operating profits of £57m in 2023 and paid out £18m in dividends.

In a letter to members this week, the unions said they were preparing options for “a jointly coordinated industrial action vote”.

Bidfood holds a £115m contract to supply “usable food” to the army, as well as government deals to provide meals to prisoners.

In the letter to Ms Eagle, GMB and Unite said: “Our members are the drivers and warehouse collectors who ensure this food reaches our armed forces, they are an integral part of the defense supply chain.

“The specific issue for joint unions – and for a Labor government committed to helping workers – is poverty rates for our members working in Bidfood warehouses and in the Ministry of Defense supply chain.

“Ten warehouses across the country would have a new pay rate of £12.50 per hour. This is simply not enough.”

Union leaders met with Bidfood executives in September, although workers say the company “made it clear that they were not prepared to enter into new negotiations or consider making any revised pay offers”.

The dispute comes amid the government’s shake-up of workers’ rights, which aims to encourage unions by repealing anti-strike legislation.

The new Employment Rights Act, led by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, will grant workers greater protections from their first day on the job.

A Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “We continue to work with all contractors on providing equipment and supplies to our armed forces.”

Bidfood has been contacted for comment.