Tesco distribution strikes suspended

Trade union Usdaw said it has suspended the planned industrial action in the week before Christmas Eve at nine Tesco distribution sites following a “new and much improved” pay offer from the supermarket.

The union has yesterday opened two ballots for members on the pay offer, and the strikes have been suspended pending the ballot result due on 22 December.

The move follows the suspension of strikes last week by the union Unite at four Tesco distribution sites after securing an improved offer in the dispute over pay.

However, there’s no development yet on the two-day strike, including Christmas Eve, called by drivers at Booker Thamesmead depot, which could disrupt deliveries to 1,500 convenience stores in London and the south east.

The two Usdaw ballots involve over 5,000 Usdaw members, employed as drivers and warehouse workers, at nine Tesco distribution centres in: Daventry Clothing, Goole, Hinckley, Lichfield, Livingston, Magor (both trunk and main sites), Peterborough and Southampton.

“The strength and solidarity of our members has secured a much improved pay deal. We have negotiated a 5.5 per cent increase, backdated to July, and a further 0.5 per cent from the end of February next year,” Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw national officer, said.

The new deal, which amounts to 6 per cent in total and similar to that secured by Unite last week, represents a significant improvement on the previously rejected 4 per cent offer, the union said.

“Having reached this improved offer, we have suspended strike action and are recommending that our members support the new offer. Retail distribution workers are key workers who delivered essential services throughout the pandemic; they deserve this pay rise,” McGuinness added.

Unite has on 6 December announced that its members employed at Tesco distribution centres in Antrim, Belfast, Didcot and Doncaster would be staging a series of strikes both before and after Christmas.

The union said fresh talks with the company were held following the announcement and an improved offer was made. The workers have been offered a minimum of a 5.5 per cent increase backdated to July 2021 (the anniversary date for annual pay increases) and an additional 0.5 per cent from February 2022.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Tesco’s improved offer shows what can be achieved by our members standing together. Given that the company has forecast profits for 2021 topping £2.5 billion an improved offer is the least Tesco workers could expect.”

In addition Unite has secured an agreement with Tesco for a formal dialogue on revising the current system of legacy and new generation contracts. If agreed this would create a single pay scale for all the work being undertaken in the distribution centres.

Unite said it will now ballot its members on the deal, recommending its acceptance. If the deal is rejected by the members then fresh strike action will be announced but that is unlikely to be before January 2022.