Dispute settled

The pay dispute at Menzies Distribution, which had threatened deliveries to newsagents across the UK, has been settled after workers voted to accept an improved offer, Unite said on Friday (September 30).

The 300 packers, pickers and drivers voted by a significant majority to accept the improved offer, which is not being disclosed to the media.

Unite national officer for the graphical, paper and media sector Ian Tonks said,“Our members have accepted the improved offer by a significant majority. This victory shows what can be achieved when working people stand together in solidarity.

“The threat of industrial action has now been withdrawn and our members are working normally,” he added.

The three month dispute had centred on a very low imposed pay offer and cutbacks to bank holiday pay.

The main distribution centres include Ashford, Aylesford, Bromley-by-Bow, Greenwich, Norwich, Ipswich, Portsmouth, West Thurrock and Weybridge in England. The main sites in Scotland are at Dundee, Dunfermline, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Irvine, and Paisley.