Strike suspended

The strike by staff at Menzies Distribution, which could have threatened deliveries to newsagents across the UK, has been suspended for workers to vote on an improved offer, Unite said today (September 22).

The ballot result on the improved offer to the 300 packers, pickers and drivers is expected to be known on Friday, September 30. The details of the improved offer are not being disclosed to the media.

This means that the two 24-hour strikes due to have started tomorrow Friday (September 23) and Monday (September 26) have been suspended while the ballot is being held.

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

“The strike action has been suspended while our members vote on the improved offer,” said national officer for the graphical, paper and media sector Ian Tonks. “The result is expected next Friday (September 30). Unite won’t be making any further comment until the ballot result is known.”

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.

Unite members had voted 86 per cent in favour of strike action and by 91 per cent for industrial action short of a strike.