We now have 6 drivers who have applied for Ocado because of there wage increase, 2 so far have been accepted this is going to be a fun Christmas with no drivers.
They'll never learn but are too tight to do anything about it. We have 2 drivers applied for Ocada & we're already short.
Tesco is risking empty shelves this winter after sparking a nationwide strike ballot amongst its logistics workers with an 'offensive' pay offer, Unite warned today (Thursday 28 October).
The ballot of 3,500 Tesco lorry driver and warehouse workers for strike action at the Belfast, Didcot, Doncaster and Thurrock regional distribution centres comes after a four per cent offer was rejected.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Tesco made more than £3 billion during the pandemic yet pretends it cannot afford to pay the workers responsible for such staggering profits a decent pay rise.
"Offering four per cent is offensive when RPI inflation is running at nearly five per cent. If our members vote to strike, Tesco can expect Unite to go all the way to support their fight for a fair pay rise."
Each of the four ballots for the distribution centres opens this Tuesday (2 November) and closes on 23 November, with the exception of Belfast, which closes on 26 November. The strikes would impact Tesco stores across Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and the south of England.
They have never given the workers a decent pay rise why start now.
"Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world..."
I'm actually looking forward to things going mammary glands vertical; I did the vast majority of our Xmas shopping weeks ago. And I enjoy watching customers suffer. That look of crushing sadness and disappointment when you tell them you don't have what they need for Christmas? I feed on that. >:D
it's their own fault. i've been telling them for years to shop elsewhere >:D :-X :D
A timely reminder.
https://www.gov.uk/if-your-business-faces-industrial-action/nonunion-employees-and-strikes (https://www.gov.uk/if-your-business-faces-industrial-action/nonunion-employees-and-strikes)
QuoteYou cannot hire agency staff to provide temporary work cover during a strike.
Agency staff who are already in place as part of normal business can carry on as usual.
So if it's happening with lorry drivers why can't we the drivers, pickers, turnaround complain to our union and get some action taken, not sure how strong all of your reps are but we have a new rep and he seems on the ball.
What action? USDAW's agreement with Tesco bans any form of industrial action.
Thank you I didn't realise that.
Vlad USDAW have taken industrial action in distribution. Dagenham 2018. And given this years pay talks not going well at least one has balloted on industrial action in the last few weeks.The problem in retail is the almost impossible ability to have a ballot that would be deemed legal. And Tesco and USDAW know it.
Fair enough, Bald Eagle, but I stand by my point: Stores and DC's are two very different beasts. There hasn't been a strike in stores since I started, and that's 20 years ago.
Well I still think if drivers from each store go to there rep and raise issue's and concerns something must get done re pay, abusive customers, extras every day.
I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. We will get f*** all like usual.
That's what I like keep going for more money in distribution then when store staff get their back dated compo it will add up to a pretty penny let alone the massive pay rise we will get Tesco won't know what's hit them.
Vlad I agree and can i say that in the 50 years I spent in different unions(mainly unpaid working as a union rep) that USDAW was the worst union that I represented. I gave up with the full time officials in the end.Its only function now is to raise funds.
A driver who has been here years did tell me the gap between the drivers and pickers was a lot bigger.
Sure was, drivers now only get the skills payment of 69p p/h more than the pickers.
Quote from: baldeagle on 29-10-21, 01:02PM
Vlad I agree and can i say that in the 50 years I spent in different unions(mainly unpaid working as a union rep) that USDAW was the worst union that I represented. I gave up with the full time officials in the end.Its only function now is to raise funds.
You're not alone, mate. I know a lot of reps who have jacked it in because the full time union officials gave them zero support.
Quote from: Modena on 29-10-21, 06:52AM
So if it's happening with lorry drivers why can't we the drivers, pickers, turnaround complain to our union and get some action taken, not sure how strong all of your reps are but we have a new rep and he seems on the ball.
Store based workers are bound by the "Collective Agreement" between USDAW & T, even if they are not members of the union as it forms part of the employment contract & that has been upheld in tribunals. Unfortunately, one of the provisions of the CWA is that store based staff will not undertake industrial action.
i find it mind boggling that members voted that in!!!!
Can anybody point me in the direction of any no strike agreement between USDAW and Tesco. Because I cannot find one and its not in the partnership agreement so far as I can see.
Why waste your time waiting for a rise find your own.
Usdaw are completely useless!,😩 They are working for Tesco and are in their back pockets! Do naff all for the staff!
I'll settle the strike question.
USDAW cannot have a no strike agreement with Tesco no union in the TUC is allowed to have one so they don't have a no strike agreement USDAW could ballot the retail members for strike action and could strike.
The problem is actually getting a strike.
The problem is that the majority of staff won't actually vote to strike and if you call for the ballot and lose you lose bargaining position.
So USDAW will call for a ballot if they think they can win.
But that's not likely as the vast majority of staff are on the poverty line already they can't afford to strike, and both sides know that.
So while there is no agreement not to strike.
There is the reality that it will not happen.
Although if my place is anything to go by a ballot would actually succeed so we never know.
As to the original point drivers will flee in droves because Tesco are a joke to work for
So if you can't strike just work slower make it harder for Tesco to get what they want . Collective sickness say all one department go sick at same time but don't talk about it plan it out of work on the quiet.That's if you can afford it .
It's called a 'blue flu' and it's considered an illegal strike.
The first option is much better, working to rule is brutal because the management have to sit there and watch it happen and are powerless to do anything because you're following every rule.
Like the rule that you can only carry a single tray at a time its common place for staff to carry 2-3 to speed up the process.
Actually looking and observing before turning taking your time and correctly following your pristine training.
Going at the customers pace on the checkout.
Cleaning as you go and putting the equipment back correctly.
For DotCom it's brutal the drivers risk assessment has to be made dituatilnally and they have the final say because the unique risks might not be present next time.
I've watched a driver bring back a third of their deliveries because of unacceptable risks.
We saw 4 drivers bring back every drop one winter night a few years ago because they didn't have torches and there was not a single street light where they were sent.
No disciplinary hearing ever took place because no rule was broken.
That's where the power lies working to rule and a reasonable pace.
And remember the legal definition of legal applies, which is the average person's opinion, how hard does the average person think they should work for minimum wage?
Thank you for your reply our place is the same some drivers will miss there lunch just to get a extra delivered, where as the rest of us will stand our ground bring back the job if we have to or come back late have lunch go back out late, there are two types of drivers here some who live for tesco others it's just a job.
We had a group of 7 drivers always got every single drop done
Managers pushed at them so they worked to rule and in 1 day brought back a total of 14 drops,all because they didn't like the way these guys stuck together, working to rule is massively powerful because it isn't breaking any rules.
My place can hold on to drivers at all its a joke now.
People sticking together :o
The norm usually is everyone thinks they are grafters in comparison to the other and fire there coworkers in at every opportunity to keep the managers off the shop floor. End result people leave and not replace and the grafters are expected to do more.
A week on strike loses you 2% of your year's earnings.
Striking to rectify a wrong decision or action has it's place, if you are prepared to sacrifice money to make your point. As a wage negotiation gambit it is rather counter productive. There are also pension and continuity of service implications if Tesco decide to play nasty (Don't think they won't).
As Horatiocain has pointed out working to rule is the most effective method, and it costs you nothing.
Just take a few minutes to look at your job and all the little things you do that make it simpler or quicker. Every procedure that you shortcut is a gain that the company is making whilst you are the one at risk of injury or disciplinary. Don't forget that all the "heatmaps", schedules and such nonsense are worked out on current performance levels, which include those "shortcuts".
Simply do your job "By The Book" and their system doesn't work anymore.....
As a distribution driver, it would be easy to find several reasons why your delivery will either be delayed by hours or not made at all. Whilst these "discussions" are taking place your gate will be blocked and no other deliveries will be possible at the backdoor.
You will be told go completely against procedures and unload another vehicle in the carpark without safety shoes, Hi-Vis and training. Will you do it.....NO!
Follow this theme through and it is easy to bring the whole shebang to a shuddering halt......
If the reason for striking is due to pay and conditions then Tesco could negatively affect continuity of service and pension for the strikers, however if the reason for strike action to begin with is non-competitive pay and benefits then that will only act as a deterrent for potential future applicants, especially in an employee market which we are currently in.
Tesco "playing nasty" will only result in more hgv drivers and striking staff to jump ship to better pay and compensation elsewhere, the cost of losing staff at present, especially staff that fall under sectors with government acknowleged severe worker shortages is many times greater than what it would cost in normal times.
HGV drivers are the backbone of all supply chains. To maintain the picture of market dominance, Tesco can in no way afford to lose hgv drivers to competitors. As it stands at the moment in todays scarcity led economy, whoever has the most availability wins.
(-*-)
Quote from: horatiocain on 02-11-21, 12:05PM
We had a group of 7 drivers always got every single drop done
Managers pushed at them so they worked to rule and in 1 day brought back a total of 14 drops
In my experience it usually more work and a more of a hassle to bring drops back. Unless you leave them on the van to be unloaded by someone else.
They rolled all of the drops back in to the debrief desk infront of the store manager clocked out, said goodbye and walked to the nearby pub, all those unhappy customers because Tesco didn't like these guys working the way they did which might have bent the rules but always got the job done and the customers always happy.
I think only 1 still works there, and he's now only there occasionally because they behave like spoiled brats.
Quote from: horatiocain on 02-11-21, 09:03AM
It's called a 'blue flu' and it's considered an illegal strike.
The first option is much better, working to rule is brutal because the management have to sit there and watch it happen and are powerless to do anything because you're following every rule.
Like the rule that you can only carry a single tray at a time its common place for staff to carry 2-3 to speed up the process.
Actually looking and observing before turning taking your time and correctly following your pristine training.
Going at the customers pace on the checkout.
Cleaning as you go and putting the equipment back correctly.
For DotCom it's brutal the drivers risk assessment has to be made dituatilnally and they have the final say because the unique risks might not be present next time.
I've watched a driver bring back a third of their deliveries because of unacceptable risks.
We saw 4 drivers bring back every drop one winter night a few years ago because they didn't have torches and there was not a single street light where they were sent.
No disciplinary hearing ever took place because no rule was broken.
That's where the power lies working to rule and a reasonable pace.
And remember the legal definition of legal applies, which is the average person's opinion, how hard does the average person think they should work for minimum wage?
Indeed. The term, "Blue Flu" originates from police officers using sick days as a form of protest. But police found out that working to rule is actually much more effective. Years ago, two armed police officers shot dead a man who was carrying a table leg in a plastic bag. When it looked like the officers could be charged with Manslaughter, almost a third of all the Met's Authorised Firearms Officers threatened to hand in their, "tickets". Because police officers cannot be ordered to carry firearms, it's a volunteer role they can withdraw from at any time.
Faced with the horrifying prospect of their not being enough armed police to protect Westminster and the so-called VIP's, the government and senior ranks quickly backed down.
Quote from: Hammer10 on 29-10-21, 12:29PM
That's what I like keep going for more money in distribution then when store staff get their back dated compo it will add up to a pretty penny let alone the massive pay rise we will get Tesco won't know what's hit them.
come and work in distribution if you want the money, I'm sure you'd be surprised how difficult it is, give me a warm comfortable store any day, rather than sweating at minus 25 degrees id definitely swap with you if the money was the same, who would work in distribution then😜
So just a update 3 drivers have been accepted at Ocado 1 has gone to a removal firm at £14.50 a hour they are looking for people long days though and 2 have gone back to the airport.
I have just seen Aldi pickers earn £11.05 more than our pickers get it surprises me that our girls don't move on unless they don't know.
Sainsburys drivers pay going upto £11.50 in March plus minimum pay in store going upto £10.
Experienced shop staff at Sainsbruys will be on £11.40 an hour making Sainsbury the best paying supermarket.
Nah, that's lidl.
My bad read it wrong still be interesting what Tesco will offer at the pay review.
Surely they've got to offer something before the pay review is due as from April they will only be paying shop floor workers 5p above minimum wage.
They've just gave their pay raise in November, Tesco moving their pay rise dates closer to the end of the year saves them money, ca's will be on £9.55 an hour until next November most likely, the later dates saves Tesco on payroll and allows them to see what their competitors pay.
The risk to their strategy of course is the negative press that would ensue if the government raises the national living wage higher than what Tesco sets it as, but Tesco always pays at least 16p above the minimum anyway, but in these high inflation times, who knows what will happen.
Tesco won't be paying 16p above nmw as from April it will be £9.55 & Tesco will be paying £9.50.
Nah , that's the wrong way round Fatlad
Sure is :-[
Well new pay rates are interesting
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/07/sainsburys-pay-increase-store-staff-drivers-shop-workers (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/07/sainsburys-pay-increase-store-staff-drivers-shop-workers)
So am I right in saying other than Asda we are the second worse payers for drivers that is shameful as we are meant to be the biggest supermarket
You should consider the type of company you work for.
A driver at a DC who had 27 years service left the company yesterday, his fellow drivers etc did him proud with cards and presents.
MM QUICKLY SCRAPED TOGETHER A £25 TESCO VOUCHER.
Yes 25 pound, think about that and let it sink in.
Lol I spent 20 years working for this Company, both here in UK and in Europe, went back to store after Europe, store manager used to see all people retiring who had completed over 10 years, gave the females a bunch of flowers, I never saw a senior manager and left with feck all, not that i wanted anything, would of been nice to have had a handshake and a thanks, but that's problem with some of the store managers, so far up their own backsides and look down on people, in my honest opinion.
in my opinion, Tesco don't appreciate their good staff half enough, they do nothing to try and hold on to them. In my store we had a complete gem of a home-shopping delivery driver who'd worked for Tesco for over 20 years. He had a great personality, very friendly chap and I'm sure he was loved by all he delivered to, he was just one of life's really nice people - even helping one elderly lady by changing her lightbulb when she couldn't reach it, that sort of thing. Then Tesco nit-picked about something minor and he left and found another job.
Talk about bringing your personality to work? They don't want you to have a personality, they want us to be robots.
Unfortunately I see it all to often, working in the office as I do, I'm shielded away from tesco's socioeconomic class warfare culture that they have in store, in fact, if i described my experiences in my past incarnation at Tesco, they wouldn't believe a single word I would have to say about it. Working at Tesco in the office, you wouldn't believe that the front line were treated as anything less than human.
Part of the reason this happens in stores is that Tesco has this sadistic tradition of constantly moving managers into different roles and into different stores. Why would a manager care if they lose the best member of staff ever when they know that in a year or two they'll be moved into another role where they won't be affected by the loss of that member of staff?
The problem store operations face is that there are razor thin profit margins in that business area, therefore productivity and operational efficiencies have priority over long term staff retention strategies, unfortunately, for that area of the business, they face a series of long and short term challenges. In the short term, they are facing levels of inflation that haven't been seen since the 70's and 90's which has a result of increasing price sensitivity among customers forcing them to be as competitive as they can and prioritize their value range of products, they are facing stiff competition from the discounters and staff retention is lower than historical averages. In the long term, apart from losing market share (primarily as a result of Aldi and Lidl still having real estate to expand in to, Tesco does as well, but are more limited in options) and Amazons plans to invest a lot into stores in the UK to become the largest market share holder within the next 5 years, there is (accelerated by inflation) a drive for automation and a service and experience led operational model, this will mean fewer staff on the shop floor and fewer management positions, delivery drivers will still be in demand, but as a result of structure changes yet to come (and they will come) the pool of managers that they'll be able to rotate and hire into the position will shrink substantially, and in all liklihood, their responsibilities will be merged with other departments
Quote from: Modena on 28-10-21, 01:31PMWe now have 6 drivers who have applied for Ocado because of there wage increase, 2 so far have been accepted this is going to be a fun Christmas with no drivers.
It sounds like your company is experiencing a shortage of drivers due to increased competition from other employers who are offering higher wages. This can be a challenging situation, especially during the busy holiday season.
One solution could be to offer competitive wages and benefits to retain your current drivers and attract new ones. Additionally, you could consider offering incentives such as bonuses or flexible schedules to encourage your current drivers to stay with your company.
Another option could be to invest in training and development programs to help your current employees grow and advance in their careers, which can improve job satisfaction and retention.
Overall, it's important to prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of your employees to maintain a strong and reliable workforce, especially during busy times.
What a curiously anodyne reply, MiltonCasey. If I was of a cynical turn of mind, I'd say that someone has been playing around with ChatGPT...
Hi, off topic but does anyone know if Maintainence technicians can be given automatic work vans ?