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Argos drivers plan Christmas strike | Argos drivers plan Christmas strike |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Argos's delivery drivers at its key distribution centre have voted to strike for three days from 20 December. | Argos's delivery drivers at its key distribution centre have voted to strike for three days from 20 December. |
Unite union members voted by 83% to strike over what they say is a failure to pay holiday back pay for two years, amounting to an average of £700. | Unite union members voted by 83% to strike over what they say is a failure to pay holiday back pay for two years, amounting to an average of £700. |
Unite said it would cause "havoc and chaos" for the retailer. | Unite said it would cause "havoc and chaos" for the retailer. |
A spokesperson for Argos said it had "contingency plans" and that "we're working hard to ensure this will not impact our deliveries." | |
He added: "We would encourage both sides to keep talking with the aim of coming to a swift resolution." | |
Unite said the strikes were a "last resort" and its door was open for talks "24/7". | |
The drivers work for Wincanton, based at Argos's flagship national distribution centre near Burton-on-Trent, in Staffordshire. | The drivers work for Wincanton, based at Argos's flagship national distribution centre near Burton-on-Trent, in Staffordshire. |
That site supplies Argos's other seven distribution centres and they, in turn, deliver to the Argos shops. | That site supplies Argos's other seven distribution centres and they, in turn, deliver to the Argos shops. |
Unite said the dispute with Wincanton centred on how holiday pay was calculated. | Unite said the dispute with Wincanton centred on how holiday pay was calculated. |
Unite says legal cases have established that overtime and extra shift payments should be taken into account when assessing holiday pay. | Unite says legal cases have established that overtime and extra shift payments should be taken into account when assessing holiday pay. |
Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: "The drivers have patiently tried to resolve this matter for over two years. Now they would like the money they are owed in time for Christmas, which is not unreasonable. | Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: "The drivers have patiently tried to resolve this matter for over two years. Now they would like the money they are owed in time for Christmas, which is not unreasonable. |
"It is very difficult to understand why Wincanton has allowed this saga to get out of hand." | "It is very difficult to understand why Wincanton has allowed this saga to get out of hand." |
Argos was taken over by Sainsbury's earlier this year. | Argos was taken over by Sainsbury's earlier this year. |
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