Argos delivery drivers vote to strike from 20th December

Argos delivery drivers based at the retailer's key Staffordshire DC have voted in favour of a three-day strike, commencing the 20th December.

The Wincanton-owned site is critical to Argos' 'hub and spoke' fulfilment model, as this DC supplies Argos' seven other DCs, which in turn deliver to Argos stores.

Unite said that a strike would have a knock-on effect causing ‘havoc and mayhem’ to deliveries in the crucial days running up to Christmas. 

An 83% majority vote of Unite union members are striking over logistics supplier Wincanton's failure to take into consideration overtime and extra shift payments when calculating holiday pay. The amounts in question equate to an average of £700 per person. 

The management has offered to backdate the holiday pay from April this year, while Unite says the pay should cover at least the last two years, hence the estimated £700 owed to individual drivers.  

In a separate dispute, Wincanton drivers working at the Argos centre in Basildon in Essex are voting on whether to take industrial action over a disciplinary system relating to ‘uncontrolled vehicle movements’. This ballot result is due on Friday (16 December).   

Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: "The drivers have patiently tried to resolve this matter for over two years. Now they would like the money they are owed in time for Christmas, which is not unreasonable.  

“It is very difficult to understand why Wincanton has allowed this saga to get out of hand because this strike by our members will cause havoc and mayhem to deliveries to Argos shops in the run-up to Christmas. 

“There will be a lot of very unhappy Argos customers, if they don’t receive the iPhones, TVs and ‘white’ goods that they have ordered as presents for relatives this Christmas.  
  
“We can assure Argos customers that strike dates are only being announced as a last resort and that Unite’s door is open 24/7 to try and settle this long-standing dispute." 

An Argos spokesperson said it had "contingency plans", adding, "we're working hard to ensure this will not impact our deliveries."

He added: "We would encourage both sides to keep talking with the aim of coming to a swift resolution."

Source : Insight DIY

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