// Tesco agrees to reopen talks with Usdaw as threat of strike action widens over a pay dispute
// Staff at 13 warehouses are set to walk out from December 20 until Christmas Eve if the retailer doesn’t improve its pay offer
Tesco has agreed to reopen talks with Usdaw after members in nine distribution centres voted overwhelmingly to strike in disputes over pay yesterday.
Usdaw said it has now welcomed the big 4 supermarket’s offer of further talks while at this stage, the planned industrial action, starting on Monday December 20 and concluding on Christmas Eve, is still set to go ahead.
The two disputes involve over 5,000 Usdaw members at nine Tesco distribution centres in: Daventry Clothing, Goole, Hinckley, Lichfield, Livingston, Magor (both trunk and main sites), Peterborough and Southampton.
READ MORE:
- Tesco could face empty shelves this Christmas as threat of strike action widens
- Tesco distribution workers to strike in run-up to Christmas
The drivers and warehouse workers had rejected a 4 per cent annual pay increase, which they argued is below inflation and Usdaw is now looking for the retailer to improve the offer to avoid pre-Christmas disruption in stores.
Usdaw National Officer Joanne McGuinness said: “We welcome the Tesco’s offer of further talks, which start tomorrow, and we will engage positively to seek a resolution to this dispute.
“Industrial action is always a last resort for our members. We sincerely hope that fresh negotiations can result in an acceptable offer from the business to avoid possible stock shortages in stores in the week before Christmas.”
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