Key Summary
- Nearly 200 lorry drivers are on strike across England for better pay.
- The ballot for industrial action closes on 17 September.
- Workers at Movianto’s warehouse in Bedford defer strike following an improved offer.
Nearly 200 lorry drivers employed by GXO, a supply chain contractor for the NHS, are being balloted for strike action, demanding better pay.
According to the trade union, Unite, GXO drivers in Alfreton (Derbyshire), Bridgwater (Somerset), Normanton (West Yorkshire), Maidstone (Kent), Rugby (Warwickshire), Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) and Washington (Newcastle) are taking part in the ballot, which closes on 17 September.
A strike could disrupt the NHS supply chains across the country.
The workers had earlier rejected a 4% offer from GXO.
The logistics firm runs the NHS supply chain for Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL), a unit of NHS England.
According to GXO, SCCL has said the pay offer cannot be increased as it is higher than what was offered to NHS workers.
However, GXO workers argue that their service conditions were inferior when compared with NHS contracts, and they draw much lower pension.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "GXO and SCCL's offer was met with a near unanimous rejection by workers. It must be improved. Unite is backing these workers all the way in their fight for a deal that reflects their hard work and dedication."
Warehouse workers strike deferred
Meanwhile, a strike by nearly 120 workers at Movianto, a specialist medical warehousing company, in Bedford have been postponed, the trade union, Unite, said on Friday (4).
Industrial action has been called off for 21 days to allow the workers to ballot on an improved offer.
The workers were due to take strike action from 7 September to 7 October.
Unite regional officer Jaswinder Singh said: “Following an improved offer from Movianto, Unite has suspended strikes in order to ballot the workers on the proposed deal.”
Promoted by Yusen group, Movianto is a storage warehouse and distribution centre for medical equipment and medication that caters to hospitals and pharmacies across the south of England.
The workers had earlier rejected a 3.5% pay offer from Movianto, and their demands include a pay rise that better reflects the rising cost of living, and paid breaks.
