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.