Unite suspends two-day HGV strike action
The strike warning comes over reports that Booker Retail Partners had put in place a temporary £5 an hour pay uplift for about 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot, but ‘refused’ to implement a similar scheme for the drivers at the Thamesmead site
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Unite union has suspended a two-day strike which could have affected deliveries to 1,500 convenience stores across London and the South East.
The two-day strike, which was due on 23 December 2021, would have included Christmas Eve by drivers employed by the Tesco-owned Booker Retail Partners at its Thamesmead site.
Unite the union said that the strikes by the 45-strong workforce were suspended until 31 January 2022 so that a review into pay could now go ahead.
The union had previously warned of strike action against the company over reports that it had put in place a temporary £5 an hour pay uplift for about 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot, but “refused” to implement a similar scheme for the drivers at the Thamesmead site.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “The Booker management has seen sense and an in-depth review of pay will now happen in January that will take into account the recent pay rises across the sector.
“Of course, we wait to see what happens now. Unite remains dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of all its HGV driver members, including those at Booker.”
Paul Travers, Unite regional officer, added: “The review, which was part of the pay deal agreed in October, means we have suspended the strike action this week until 31 January to enable it to take place in a constructive spirit.”
