At the time of the UK’s worst supply chain collapse since the 1970s, truck drivers from two companies that supply construction and convenience stores threatened to take strike action, increasing the possibility of further disruptions this fall.
A group of drivers in the Booker distribution network, which is TescoAs well as more than 200 drivers and engineers of cement producer Hanson, they have come close to taking industrial action amid disputes over salaries and conditions.
Union leaders warned that due to the lack of HGV drivers, after years of low-paid employees and poor working conditions in the company, wage disputes could deepen the supply shortage crisis and hit many parts of the British economy.
About 40 drivers employed by Booker’s Thamesmead factory in southeast London voted unanimously for the strike to resolve salary disputes — a move that could severely affect the delivery of more than 1,500 small shops operating under the Londis and Bugens brands across London. The capital and southeast.
At the same time, more than 200 truck drivers and engineers hired by Hanson, according to the Castle Cement contract, will vote on strike after rejecting the salary proposal, which increases the threat of further disruption in the construction industry.
These drivers provide power to several key construction projects in the UK, including the Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Plant, the HS2 Railway Line, the Sellafield Nuclear Decommissioning Plant and the Thames Tideway Super Sewer Project.
When the threat of strike action emerged, the severe shortage of workers and raw materials caused widespread destruction of the entire British economy. This crisis was caused by the impact of Covid. Brexit And years of insufficient investment.
Unite, the union representing workers on both sides, said the disputes reflect issues with working conditions and pay.
In Booker, the union is preparing to issue a strike notice to the employer, but hopes to have time to negotiate with the company boss later this month, which can still avoid a strike.
The focus of the controversy is that the company paid a temporary pay increase of £5 per hour for approximately 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead warehouse in response to a shortage of employees — a move that was not replicated at Thamesmead, less than 50 miles away.
Unite district official Paul Travers said that the “employment relationship with the company was very bad” caused the dispute. “For Booker’s boss, this is really the time to’sniff the coffee’.”
A Booker spokesperson said: “We are naturally disappointed with the results of the Thames Mead driver’s vote last week, but look forward to sitting down with their joint representatives on September 21 to find a solution.”
Hanson’s drivers and engineers rejected this year’s 2.5% salary proposal, which the union leader said was equivalent to a “significant salary cut”, with a retail price index measuring inflation of 3.9%.
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In addition to salary, employees are also dissatisfied with the bossy management style and the apparent lack of dignity at work. Unite said that if there is a strike, then large and small construction projects will quickly lack cement, because many construction projects have limited storage facilities.
Unite country official Adrian Jones (Adrian Jones) said that the solution is in the hands of the company. He said: “The company needs to return to the negotiating table, show the real change to our member management, and propose a salary that reflects the current challenges of the industry and our members’ commitment to the company.”
“Due to the continuing shortage of drivers, our members are seeking salary increases in recognition of their hard work and dedication.”
