A MAJOR food wholesaler has torn up a 30-year recognition agreement with Unite and GMB, leaving thousands of workers at risk of P&O-style fire-and-rehire tactics, the unions have warned.

Bidfood, which supplies to Manchester United, Subway, schools, the army and prisons, faces potential strike ballots after cancelling the agreement with immediate effect last Friday.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said today: “Bidfood is guilty of union-busting, pure and simple — 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.”

Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “Bidfood’s actions are disgraceful and Unite is considering all options about how to respond, including industrial action.”

GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said: “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.” 

A spokeswoman for Bidfood confirmed it had cancelled the agreement to have a Collective Bargaining Unit, adding: “This was not a decision we made lightly, however we’ve found in recent years that the CBU is not reflective of the interests of the majority of our employees and is therefore not fully representative of those working within transport or our warehouse roles, with a number of employees voicing concerns and frustrations over long delays in resolving issues.”