Tesco warehouse workers to strike over pay

Warehouse workers and drivers at Tesco are due to hold a series of strikes over pay, which could lead to shortages in stores, according to their trade union.

More than 1,000 of its members, based at depots in Antrim, Belfast, Didcot and Doncaster, said they would take industrial action.

The union said shoppers in many parts of the UK face empty shelves in the run-up to Christmas Unite National Officer Adrian Jones said Unite is taking strike action as a last resort after exhausted all other options.

Tesco could still avoid severe disruption in its stores by returning to the negotiating table and making a much improved offer at this late stage. Unite said Tesco had offered a 4% pay rise, which is less than the current retail price index RPI inflation rate of 6%, while the consumer prices index measure of inflation is 4.2%.

The company said it had contingency plans to mitigate the impact of strike action and that it had one of the highest awards made within its distribution business in the last 25 years.

The distribution industry warned of a scaled back Christmas in UK stores as retailers reduce product choice to focus on being able to have the essentials for the season, and supermarkets are already battling with supply chain disruption.

Sharon Graham, unite general secretary, said that our members went above and beyond the call of duty to keep Tesco's shelves filled throughout the pandemic.

At the very least, the UK's largest and wealthiest retailer should be making our members a decent pay offer. Workers at Didcot and Doncaster sites will strike for 48 hours from 6 am on 16 December 16, to be followed by a five-day stoppage from December 20.

There will be additional strikes at the two sites after Christmas.

On 16 December, a continuous strike will be launched at Antrim and Belfast Tesco distribution centres.

A Tesco spokeswoman said that their distribution colleagues have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to keep products moving for customers.

The pay offer we have made is one of the highest awards within our distribution business in the last 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 have contingency plans in place to help mitigate any impacts, and we are disappointed that some have voted to proceed.

The strike dates announcement came a week after Unite said pre-Christmas industrial action at Morrisons distribution centres had been averted as members voted to accept an improved pay offer.