Argos shrugs off Lutterworth strike action
The row over Argos’ plans to transfer 96 drivers in Leicestershire to controversial haulier Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL) has escalated into full strike action.
Two sets of strike action are set to take place next week, involving more than 400 workers at the Lutterworth site.
Union Unite called on Argos to reconsider its decision to transfer the drivers to ESL due to take place on Sunday 12 June.
Unite says the key concern of the 420 workers is that if the drivers are transferred to ESL that the rest of the workforce will follow with possible detrimental effects on pay, employment conditions and job security.
The warehouse and admin staff will strike for six days starting at 00:01 on Tuesday 7 June, ending at 05:59 hours on 12 June. The drivers will strike from 00:01 on 7 June, concluding at 23:59 hours on Saturday 11 June.
The Unite members voted by 75 per cent for strike action and 80 per cent for industrial action short of a strike in a bid to remain employees of Argos.
Unite regards ESL as a poor employer with a hostile attitude to its workers. In April, Unite settled a dispute which centred on the transfer of 87 Co-op Coventry-based drivers to ESL. The majority of the Coventry drivers preferred to take the severance package rather than go and work for ESL.
Unite regional coordinating officer Paresh Patel said: “The strength of the mandate for industrial action reinforces our members’ clearly stated desire to remain employed by Argos.
“The management can avoid this action by rescinding the decision to outsource the drivers to Eddie Stobart which has a bad reputation in terms of employee relations.”
However, Argos says the strike action won’t affect their business.
A statement from the company read: “Argos customers will not experience any disruption in the event of a proposed strike at its Magna Park Distribution Centre, which is one of several Distribution Centres around the UK.
“The strike relates to the intention to TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings) the site’s 100 driver colleagues to Eddie
Stobart Ltd. Contingency plans are in place to ensure that customers are unaffected by the proposed strike.”
