West Lothian branches of Sainsbury’s stores could face shortages as DHL distribution workers voted to strike over “second-class” treatment
Unite the union announced a week-long strike action that will hit supplies to Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland after a pay offer was rejected by DHL workers.
Members are now set to begin the week-long strike action from 6am on August 13 and continuing each day up to August 20, when the action will conclude at 5.59am - hitting branches in Livingston and Linlithgow.
Unite represents over 300 DHL warehouse workers who are based at the distribution centre in Langlands Park East Kilbride.
The union said 96 per cent of DHL workers on a 68 per cent turnout emphatically voted to take strike action following the rejection of DHL’s final offer.
Unite said its members are fighting for a fair pay deal that values their contribution to DHL and equal treatment by the company. They said DHL are offering lower wages to workers based in Scotland when compared to other parts of the UK.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our DHL Sainsbury’s members deserve a fair pay rise and to be treated equally with their fellow workers based throughout the UK. Unite will challenge DHL and its mega-wealthy owners. We don’t do our members being treated as ‘second class’.
“They have their union’s full support in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at DHL Sainsbury’s.”
Negotiations have taken place under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) but Unite has now served notice of the strike action.
Unite regional officer Willie Thomson added: “The cost of living crisis is impacting every DHL Sainsbury’s worker equally but this billion pounds company continue to value their workers at East Kilbride less than others based throughout the UK. We will not tolerate this second class treatment of our members.
“Strike action is always a last resort but our members have no option but to take a stand. The company will soon know the value of its workforce when there will be empty shelves in Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland. All our members are asking for is the same wage rise.”
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