‘We will not stand idle’

Members of Unite the union, employed as class one lorry drivers with Eddie Stobart, on the Walkers Snack Foods contract at Birchwood, Warrington are set to ballot for strike action over the company’s refusal to enter into meaningful discussions around workplace practices.

The drivers were transferred from Walkers Snack Foods to Eddie Stobart last year under a TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings of Protection of Employment). However, since the transfer Stobart management has continued to ignore industrial agreements that are in place to protect workers’ terms and conditions.

The ballot for strike action opens on Thursday, March 28 and closes on Thursday, April 11.

“Unite has made numerous requests to Stobart management to come to the table to discuss our members’ concerns,” said Unite regional officer Steven Gerrard.

“However, we will not stand idle when our members’ collective agreements on their terms and conditions of employment are under attack and being totally disregarded and disrespected,” he added.

“Previously, when our members were employed by Walkers, they had good employment relationships with the company. Unless management at Stobart take its side of industrial relations seriously this could lead to strike action and have a massive impact on supplies of, snack foods to major high street suppliers including Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

“We will continue to fight for our members’ interests.”

Unite is urging Stobart management to engage in meaningful talks to find a resolution to this dispute if strike action is to be averted.