// 1,500 Londis & Budgens UK convenience stores could be impacted by a strike threat
// The the union warned that any industrial action will deepen the supply shortage crisis brought on by the lack of HGV drivers
Convenience stores across Cambridgeshire could soon be hit with supply shortages after delivery drivers voted to go in strike.
Forty drivers employed by Booker Retail Partners at its Thamesmead site voted unanimously for strike action.
Unite the union says strike action would bring delivery disruption to 1,500 convenience stores in London and beyond.
The drivers deliver products under the Budgens and Londis brands to approximately 1,500 convenience stores but there could soon be delivery shortages due to a pay dispute.
The union said it is “poised to issue notice to the employer for strike action, but wants to allow time for crunch talks with the bosses” on September 21-23.
The the union warned that any industrial action will deepen the current supply shortage crisis hitting many parts of the UK economy because of the lack of HGV drivers.
A Unite spokesperson said: “The crux of the dispute is that the company, part of the Tesco ‘empire’, put in place a temporary £5 an hour pay uplift for about 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot because of the HGV driver shortage, but then refused to implement a similar uplift for the 40 drivers at the Thamesmead site.”
Unite regional officer Paul Travers said: “This is really ‘smell the coffee’ time for the bosses at Booker Retail Partners. Our members at Thamesmead could not have sent out a clearer message – 100 per cent voting in favour of strike action.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
