Warehouse workers striking over 'disgusting' pay and conditions have protested over a 'lack of support' from their local MP.
On Friday (January 28), B&Q warehouse workers striking over a pay dispute protested at a Worksop jobs fair being held by local MP Brendan Clarke-Smith.
Unite members at B&Q national distribution at Worksop’s Old Manton Wood Colliery site, which is managed by Wincanton, said that they had been offered a 'disgraceful' pay rise and that the Bassetlaw Conservative MP had not supported them enough.
Striking employees were angered by their MP's response to criticism over his vote against the VAT cut on energy bills, in which he reportedly told a union member to "consider cancelling his membership of Unite, which would save £15 per month".
Some of the workers said that they could not afford to heat their homes and have had to use foodbanks to get daily necessities.
Michael Wagstaff, 53, who has worked at the warehouse for four years, said: "It's over pay and conditions, we're all getting fed up.
"They are offering us four percent which is way below the national average. The cost of living is going up and our wage should reflect that.
"I am on the verge on having to go to a foodbank myself, it's unbelievable what we have to do. We can't keep up with the inflation.
"They think we can pluck money straight off trees but we just can't do it, people are dropping into savings and struggling.
"Our local MP is arrogant telling us to upskill and save money by not being part of a union. It's us little people who make millions for those people at the top of the company but they don't pass any of that down to us.
"I think it's disgraceful how are we supposed to keep up with the rate of inflation.
"When he turns round and says stupid things like 'cancel your subscriptions' to a union - he's supposed to be our MP. There's no support for us at all."
Around 450 Wincanton staff, who make-up the vast majority of the warehouse’s workforce, have been on rolling strikes since November.
Another Wincanton worker, who had to use foodbanks this summer to feed her children and did not wish to be identified, said: “On the wages I am on it’s already very difficult to get by. I’m watching my kids outgrow their clothes and we’re constantly looking for second hand ones.
“I can’t take them on days out, we have to limit time in the shower and they have to put extra clothes on so we keep the heating bills down. With inflation and gas bills going up, if my wages stay this low, we’re going to be in real trouble.”
The workers have recently escalated the industrial action over poverty pay to an all-out strike, which Unite said was "severely impacting B&Q store deliveries across the country".
Unite regional secretary for the East Midlands, Paresh Patel, said: “Wincanton and B&Q are behaving appallingly by not acknowledging that these workers do not earn enough to live on and need a decent rise to keep up with inflation.
“These are very profitable companies who can clearly afford to pay decent wages and Mr. Clarke-Smith should be standing up for his constituents by saying exactly that.”
MP MR Clarke-Smith said: “Local people and hardworking families are desperate for decent employment opportunities and it is disappointing and quite shameful that Unite has decided to hijack a jobs fair to play their self-serving and juvenile political games.
"I have stated on numerous occasions that I believe all workers should be paid a fair wage and that it should also be relative to the cost of living.
"It is not for me to tell individual employers what they should be paying their staff. That said, I understand the current rate of £9.96 per hour is already above the National Living Wage as well as the upcoming increase to this. I also understand the percentage of the pay rise offered is higher than that given to many other workers, including NHS staff.
"B&Q were not even at the event, so this leads me to believe Unite’s actions are political not professional. They should be having a stall at the jobs fair and helping people into work.
"Unite should focus on getting the best deal for B&Q workers, not sabotaging the employment prospects of others and intimidating members of the public, many of whom are anxious and have shown a great deal of courage to attend the jobs fair. Thankfully, today has been a great success.”
A Wincanton spokesperson said: “We value the vital work our colleagues carry out every day and the offer we have put forward is fair and competitive. We remain committed to finding a resolution that satisfies all parties.”
A B&Q spokesperson said: "We’re in contact with Wincanton who manage the Worksop distribution centre and who remain committed to finding a resolution.”
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