The ballot of over 100 Usdaw members had an 87% turnout and was conducted after the company’s offer of 5.25%, with some investment in an attendance bonus and a damage bonus, was rejected. The ballot gives Usdaw a mandate to take industrial action from week beginning 18 March.
Rab Donnelly - Usdaw Regional Secretary says: “Our members at GXO Swindon voted to reject the company’s offer of 5.25% and we remain disappointed that we have been unable to reach a resolution the dispute. These ballot results clearly demonstrate that the current offer is unacceptable to our members. In the midst of a cost of living crisis and the raging inflation of the last year, this offer amounts to a real terms pay cut.
“We have further discussions planned with the company under the auspices of ACAS and remain open to negotiation. The company need to improve the offer that is on the table. Any industrial action will inevitably disrupt supplies to B&Q stores in the region and we urge managers to do the right and reasonable thing and make an offer that is acceptable to members in order to resolve the dispute.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion