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Doncaster Stobart lorry drivers to strike over job threat | Doncaster Stobart lorry drivers to strike over job threat |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Lorry drivers at a supermarket 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 are set to start the walk out next Tuesday. | |
The drivers, employed by Eddie Stobart, are angry 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 said it was disappointed by the decision and Tesco said it hoped strike action could be avoided. |
Eddie Stobart, which took over operations from Tesco at the Doncaster site in August, announced the reorganisation in September. | |
'Management intransigent' | '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, 92% of drivers had voted in favour of a strike, 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. |
She said the strike would "severely disrupt" supplies to Tesco stores across the region. | |
'Minimum disruption' | |
David Pickering, Eddie Stobart managing director, said the proposed strike action was "very disappointing". | David Pickering, Eddie Stobart managing director, said the proposed strike action was "very disappointing". |
Mr Pickering said: "If the strike does go ahead, we will ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum." | Mr Pickering said: "If the strike does go ahead, we will ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum." |
Tesco said in a statement that its former drivers had been offered positions in the warehouse at the Doncaster distribution centre and elsewhere within the firm. | |
If the strike went ahead it did not expect it to cause disruption for its customers, the company said. |