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| Doncaster Stobart lorry drivers to strike over job threat | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Lorry drivers at a supermarket goods distribution centre in South Yorkshire have voted to hold a 48-hour strike in a dispute over possible job losses. | Lorry drivers at a supermarket goods distribution centre in South Yorkshire have voted to hold a 48-hour strike in a dispute over possible job losses. |
| About 180 drivers at Tesco's Doncaster distribution centre have voted to strike next Tuesday, Unite said. | About 180 drivers at Tesco's Doncaster distribution centre have voted to strike next Tuesday, Unite said. |
| The drivers, employed by Eddie Stobart, were "furious" at planned cuts to the haulage firm's operations at the site. | The drivers, employed by Eddie Stobart, were "furious" at planned cuts to the haulage firm's operations at the site. |
| Eddie Stobart said it was disappointed by the decision and Tesco said it hoped strike action could be avoided. | |
| Eddie Stobart, which took over transport operations at the Doncaster site in August, announced in September it was intending to reorganise its transport operations there. | Eddie Stobart, which took over transport operations at the Doncaster site in August, announced in September it was intending to reorganise its transport operations there. |
| The firm launched a 90-day consultation period over plans to carry out all collections and deliveries at the site using just its existing resources. | The firm launched a 90-day consultation period over plans to carry out all collections and deliveries at the site using just its existing resources. |
| 'Management intransigent' | |
| A total of 183 lorry drivers' jobs at the Doncaster centre were threatened if the plans went ahead, the Unite union said. | A total of 183 lorry drivers' jobs at the Doncaster centre were threatened if the plans went ahead, the Unite union said. |
| In response, drivers had voted by 91.7% to 8.3% in favour of strike action, the union said. | In response, drivers had voted by 91.7% to 8.3% in favour of strike action, the union said. |
| Harriet Eisner, Unite regional officer, said members wanted "a constructive dialogue" with Eddie Stobart, but the company's management had so far remained "intransigent". | Harriet Eisner, Unite regional officer, said members wanted "a constructive dialogue" with Eddie Stobart, but the company's management had so far remained "intransigent". |
| "The drivers are furious at the way they have been treated by this callous management which seems hell-bent on throwing them on the dole queue by Christmas," said Ms Eisner. | "The drivers are furious at the way they have been treated by this callous management which seems hell-bent on throwing them on the dole queue by Christmas," said Ms Eisner. |
| The strike action would "severely disrupt" supplies to Tesco stores across the region with more stoppages likely if the dispute was not resolved, she added. | The strike action would "severely disrupt" supplies to Tesco stores across the region with more stoppages likely if the dispute was not resolved, she added. |
| David Pickering, Eddie Stobart managing director, said the proposed strike action was "very disappointing". | |
| He added that "since the original ballot was held, we have committed over 120 alternative driving roles within Stobart Group just one month into meaningful consultation and dialogue". | |
| Mr Pickering said: "If the strike does go ahead, we will ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum." | |
| Tesco said in a statement if the strike went ahead it did not expect it to cause disruption for its customers. |