Argos braced for strike action
UK catalogue retailer Argos is braced for three weeks of strike action across its distribution network in a dispute over redundancy and severance package agreements.
Five sites, including one at Heywood in Greater Manchester, and others in Basildon, Essex, Bridgewater in Somerset, Castleford in West Yorkshire and Burton-on-Trent where a total of 1,100 workers, members of the Unite union, are affected.
Unite says it is angry that Argos has failed to give guarantees at all its logistics sites that workers’ future terms and conditions will be safeguarded, after nearly 500 workers were transferred from its Lutterworth distribution hub in Leicestershire to Wincanton Logistics in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
The union said it is worried about the intentions of Argos, now owned by supermarket giant Sainbury’s.
Strike action is to begin on the morning of Tuesday, August 15 and concludes on Tuesday, September 5.
Unite national officer for logistics and retail distribution Matt Draper said: “What we are faced with is the thin end of the wedge with Sainbury’s pulling the strings behind the scenes – and that the not-so-hidden agenda is serious cost-cutting to the detriment of our members.
“The transfer of the workers from Lutterworth to the Wincanton site at Kettering, whether they wanted to go or not, led to this strike ballot.
“We want a comprehensive national agreement with the employer covering redundancy and severance packages, as well as our members at Barton being covered by such an agreement and to be allowed into the national forum, if they so wish, which is not the case at present.
“These strikes will enormously affect deliveries to Argos customers as the firm works on ‘a just in time’ delivery policy. Even the smallest disruption or delay will adversely impact on the supply chain.
“We call on the management to negotiate a new agreement in a constructive manner and in good faith, otherwise this industrial action that our members overwhelmingly voted for, will go ahead. Unite’s door for talks remains open 24/7.”
TheBusinessDesk.com has contacted Argos for comment.
