Tesco shoppers in many parts of the UK face empty shelves in the
run-up to Christmas as members of Unite, the UK’s leading union,
announced strike action in a dispute over pay.
The workers, who include warehouse and HGV drivers, are based at
Tesco’s depots in Antrim, Belfast, Didcot and Doncaster.
The strike is a result of Tesco offering the workers
just a four per cent pay increase, which is well below the
current retail price index (RPI) inflation rate of six per cent.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our
members have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep
Tesco’s shelves filled throughout the pandemic. 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.”
The Didcot and Doncaster sites will see an initial 48 hours
stoppage beginning at 06:00 on Thursday 16
December. This will be followed by a further five day
pre-Christmas stoppage beginning on Monday 20
December.
There will be a further a 48 hour stoppage beginning on
Thursday 30 December and a three day stoppage
beginning on 5 January 2022 at Doncaster and
Didcot.
Unite members at the Antrim and Belfast Tesco distribution
centres will begin an all-out continuous strike from 07:00 on
Thursday 16 December.
The workforce are particularly angry that Tesco is trying to
force them into a real terms pay cut, due to the company’s
incredible profitability, with the supermarket giant
predicting an operating profit of £2.6 billion for the current
financial year..
Unite is also balloting its members for strike action at Tesco’s
distribution centre in Livingston. The ballot closes on Monday 6
December. If workers vote for industrial action they will be
likely to join the strike action before Christmas.
Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “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.”
The threat of pre-Christmas
strikes also affecting supplies to the supermarket chain
Morrisons has ended after members of Unite accepted an improved
pay offer.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Tesco risks empty shelves this
winter after ‘offensive’ pay offer sparks nationwide
strike ballot
