Unite is warning Tesco will be hit by empty shelves at Christmas after its members voted to strike in a pay dispute.
Over 1,000 warehouse workers and HGV drivers have voted to strike over a 4% pay rise offer, which Unite says is not enough because it falls below the current retail price index inflation rate of 6%. The offer is an increase of a previously proposed 2.5% rise.
Action is to be staged at four Tesco distribution centres, in Didcot in Oxfordshire, Doncaster, and Antrim and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Workers in Didcot and Doncaster are to stop for 48 hours beginning at 6am on 16 December, and for a further five days beginning 20 December. They will then stop again for 48 hours from 30 December and for three days starting 5 January.
Unite members at the Antrim and Belfast DCs are to strike continuously from 7am on 16 December.
Unite is also balloting its members at Tesco’s DC in Livingston on joining the action, in a vote closing today (6 December).
The union said members were “particularly angry” with Tesco’s offer of what it called a “real terms pay cut”.
“Our members have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep Tesco’s shelves filled throughout the pandemic,” said Unite national officer Adrian Jones. “At the very least the UK’s largest and wealthiest retailer should be making our members a decent pay offer.
“Unite always prioritises the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and it will be giving its full and total support to our members at Tesco until this dispute is resolved.”
Jones added: “Unite is taking strike action as a last resort having exhausted all other options.
“Even at this late stage Tesco could still avoid severe disruption in its stores by returning to the negotiating table and making a greatly improved offer.”
A Tesco spokeswoman said: “Our distribution colleagues have worked tirelessly through the pandemic in order to keep products moving for customers. The pay offer we have made is a fair recognition of this, and is one of the highest awards made within our distribution business in the last 25 years, building on our highly competitive pay and rewards package.
“We welcome the decision by our colleagues at the sites who have voted against industrial action. We are disappointed that some have voted to proceed, and we have contingency plans in place to help mitigate any impacts.
“We have worked hard to deliver Christmas for our customers and are confident we will be able to fulfil our plans.”
Union Usdaw also recently warned of strike action by workers at nine Tesco DCs in the run-up to Christmas over a pay offer from the supermarket.
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