Tesco bosses to reopen pay talks

STAFF VOTED

TESCO bosses are hoping to negotiate a Christmas truce with warehouse workers, including those at the Hinckley depot, who voted to walk out in a dispute over their pay increase.

Members of union Usdaw have chosen to go on strike during the week before Christmas, which they said could lead to stock shortages for the supermarket giant, after they rejected a 4 per cent annual pay rise.

Now, the superstore chain has offered further talks to the union, in an effort to prevent the industrial action.

The two disputes involve more than 5,000 Usdaw members at nine Tesco distribution centres, including Daventry, Goole, Lichfield, Livingston, Magor, Peterborough and Southampton.

Usdaw national officer Joanne McGuinness said: “We welcome Tesco’s offer of further talks and we will engage positively to seek a resolution to this dispute.

“Industrial action is always a last resort for our members. We sincerely hope fresh negotiations can result in an acceptable offer from the business to avoid possible stock shortages in stores before Christmas.”

The workers are set to walk out from December 20 until Christmas Eve.

The Mercury asked Tesco for a comment about talks resuming. We were directed to a previous comment provided by the company: “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 past 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.

“We have worked hard to deliver Christmas for our customers and are confident we will be able to fulfil our plans.”

Tesco also faces strikes in the coming weeks at several other warehouses, organised by the union Unite, after their members rejected the 4 per cent pay rise offer.

These will affect more than 1,000 workers at its depots in Antrim, Belfast, Didcot and Doncaster.