John Swinney urged to act on "union-busting" NHS food supplier
Bidfood, one of the largest food distributors in Britain, confirmed it withdrew its recognition of unions in the company
A union has called on the First Minister to step in after a company with a multi-million pound contract to supply food to Scottish hospitals ripped up a 30-year agreement with workers.
Bidfood, one of the UK’s largest food distributors, confirmed it withdrew its voluntary agreement to have union recognition across its business from January this year.
GMB Scotland has written to John Swinney claiming Bidfood’s decision is in breach of the Scottish Government’s employment rules for the public sector.
The union is urging Mr Swinney to write to Bidfood, highlighting how Fair Work guidelines demand contractors in the public sector are good employers.
The union said the company has a £2m contract to supply food to NHS Scotland due to end in September, while other contracts to supply frozen and chilled food worth £7m are in place with two Scots universities, Edinburgh and Strathclyde.
Robert Deavy, of GMB Scotland, said Bidfood’s decision to derecognise trade unions after 30 years without warning leaves workers exposed to assaults on pay and conditions.
Bidfood’s clients include schools, prisons, the Army,