Strike Action Looms At XPO Logistics Over ‘Shameful List’ Of Attacks On Staff Conditions
Strike Action Looms At XPO Logistics Over ‘Shameful List’ Of Attacks On Staff Conditions
Food supplies to retail giant’s Morrisons could be affected in the weeks ahead after hundreds of warehouse and logistics operatives overwhelmingly supported to move a strike ballot over attacks to their terms and conditions.
Over 700 GMB Scotland members at XPO Logistics in Bellshill voted by a majority of 97.8 per cent to move a full industrial action ballot against what staff are calling ‘a shameful list’ of failure by their employer, including:
- Non-payment of annual wage increases;
- Non-payment and miscalculation of pension contributions;
- Withholding of statutory sick pay and over-payment of sick pay rates;
- Aggressive repayment structures forcing staff into hardship; and
- Management blocking staff annual leave entitlement.
GMB reps have made repeated attempts in recent months to resolve the decline in employment relations without success and the union is urging management to begin meaningful talks in an effort to stave off strike action.
GMB Scotland Organiser Bob Deavy said: “This glaring negligence on the part of XPO management against our members terms and conditions just keeps growing - it’s a remarkable state of affairs and cannot be left unchallenged.
“Our members are clear that management have ignored the impact of these problems on staff morale and wellbeing, and leaving them unresolved will only exacerbate a rapidly deteriorating situation at the Bellshill depot.
“That’s why they have voted overwhelmingly in support of moving to a full strike ballot. It is not something they take lightly but the impact of underpayments, overpayments, miscalculations and punitive repayments are damaging households and livelihoods.
“The charge sheet against XPO management is a shameful list of failure and any decent employer would be urgently talking to their employees and their unions. That’s what we are urging XPO to do if they want to avoid a damaging industrial action.
“We will also be looking to bring Morrisons to the table for negotiations. The Bellshill and Eurocentral sites service around 70 of the supermarket chains stores. We would welcome their input into resolving these serious issues as any industrial action could have a serious impact on Morrisons availability to customers.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Robert Deavy on 07921 289740 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077.
