25/01/2016

XPO Logistics Workers To Undertake 48-Hour Strike

Drivers and warehouse operatives at Motherwell-based firm XPO Logistics will undertake a 48-hour strike later this week after the company ignored a national agreement and imposed changes to long-standing pay and working-time arrangements.

On a 65 per cent turnout, 92 per cent voted for strike action and 100 per cent voted for action short of strikes in protest at XPO management's failure to consult and negotiate over changes to rates of pay and time in lieu for employees working the traditional new year bank holiday. A discontinuous strike is due to start at 14:00 hours on Thursday 28 January and will run until 14:00 hours on Saturday 30 January, affecting XPO's UK-wide distributions contracts, including deliveries of component materials to car manufacturers Ford and Vauxhall. Two attempts have been made by Unite to resolve the dispute at Acas but XPO management refused to move on its previous imposition.

Unite regional officer Stephen Deans said: "It is regrettable that XPO decided to impose these changes on its workers rather than pursue a resolution through the proper channels of consultation with Unite. The significant mandate for strike action and action short of strike should have immediately set alarm bells ringing in senior management circles about the depth of anger among the workers. XPO is growing significantly through a series of recent acquisitions but we are absolutely determined the company will not impose cuts on workers while running roughshod over long-standing collective agreements that promote good employment relations. “If the employer chooses to abandon its imposition and is willing to enter into proper dialogue that respects our agreement then we can resolve this dispute before a damaging strike."

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