Tesco is risking empty shelves this winter after sparking a
nationwide strike ballot amongst its logistics workers with
an ‘offensive’ pay offer, Unite warned today (Thursday
28 October).
The ballot of 3,500 Tesco lorry drivers and warehouse
workers for strike action at the Belfast, Didcot, Doncaster
and Thurrock regional distribution centres comes after
a four per cent pay offer was rejected.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tesco made more
than £3 billion during the pandemic yet pretends it cannot afford
to pay the workers responsible for such staggering profits a
decent pay rise.
“Offering four per cent is offensive when RPI inflation is
running at nearly five per cent. If our members vote to strike,
Tesco can expect Unite to go all the way to
support their fight for a fair pay rise.”
Each of the four ballots for the distribution centres opens this
Tuesday (2 November) and closes on 23 November, with the
exception of Belfast, which closes on 26 November. The strikes
would impact Tesco stores across Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and
the south of England.
During negotiations, Tesco has made it clear that it does not
believe it needs to substantially raise the wages of lorry
drivers. Despite well-publicised driver shortages, the
supermarket claims it has a waiting list of 400 drivers keen to
work for the company.
Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “Tesco’s
management could not have made their disdain for these workers,
who ensured the company’s coffers overflowed during the pandemic,
any clearer.
“As well as making massive amounts in 2020, Tesco’s profits
jumped by 16.6 per cent during the first half of 2021, while
profit forecasts for the full year have also grown. If there is
strike action and Christmas shortages, shoppers should know that
Tesco’s out and out greed and arrogance are entirely to
blame.”
Unite is lending its support to the Take a Break
campaign on Monday (1 November) by HGV drivers for
safety, decency and dignity to be restored to the haulage
industry.
