Its official. Drivers and warehouse staff from 9 USDAW and Unite sites will be on strike from Monday 20th to Friday 24th December unless Tesco come back with a new and acceptable offer. Despite Tesco saying they have contingency plans in place there WILL be store shortages. Might be an idea to arrange alternative bookings of other supermarkets to shop from if you usually shop online, you can always cancel closer to the date if the strike doesn't go ahead. Details in link:
https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2021/Dec/Usdaw-members-at-nine-Tesco-distribution-centres-v
I hope both sides hold their nerve. A Christmas without the warehouse so packed full of stock we can barely move? More chance of going home early? Ya dancer! :D
I mean, obviously it will ruin some customer's Christmas dinners etc. But that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make. >:D
I would like to see what Tesco's plans are to cope with a strike. Do we know the percentage of union staff to non union staff at distribution ? . I work backdoor at a large Extra and the drivers that come in seem to think this will cripple the whole delivery system at Christmas
Under normal circumstances if one DC goes out, work is transferred in what is known as a ripple effect to other DC,s. with 13 going out that will not work This time. Most staff in distribution are union members.
My store is in the Midlands and it looks like all local fresh and ambient D.C. will be out with Doncaster being the first out for 2 days from the 6am on the 16th . My wife has decided to grab a few bits Extra now and freeze it for Christmas dinner . Do we think Tesco will learn anything from this or as usual bury its collective head in the sand and hope the problem goes away for staff at both distribution and store and hope we all are happy and and don't ask for further pay rise ?
I hope tesco don't cave to pressure. A 4% payrise on top on drivers already cushy contracts is much better than stores ever get offered and accept.
If they want a bigger pay rise then Tesco could accept that but bring the depots more in line with store contracts. No deliveries to make, get the drivers cleaning or picking like the staff do in store. Fed up of hearing how the drivers have been sat around for hours being paid to do nothing whilst awaiting deliveries to be picked.
Arrived at a store and there is a queue of lorries in front of you? Park up and go into the store to help tip the deliveries.
Remove the lovely cooked meals in the staff canteens in depots and replace with a sandwhich shop like stores are stuck with.
Having worked in both depots and stores, the depots have it so good and I don't think they realise this.
You've done it now, mate! This thread will be flooded with all the DC Heroes telling us how they work 21 hours a day in -50, lifting cages two at a time with their bare hands! ;D :D
This topic is about "Driver and Warehouse Strike", not making comparisons between stores and DCs any posts of that ilk may be deleted.
You have been warned.
Well if that's your attitude, Nomad, I may as well just head on over to the Dot Com forum and abuse the home shoppers. Again. >:D
Honestly, what happened to you, man? You used to be cool... 8)
Depots need to be careful.
Ever since the shop staff voted against a pay deal years ago, there has been no vote.
Store andcdepot workers are all u derpaid, they all are what keeps Tesco in business and operating. I fully back the depot workers.
I wonder if stores should come out and support distribution? Afterall distribution have always supported stores fight for better t&cs ;).
I think that distributions t&cs seem quite good at the moment, after-all any extra pay will have to come from somewhere won't it, and tesco will have to find money to equalize in-store-pay when stores win their legal action.
So, in short, I don't think tesco will be able to afford any extra pay for distribution, hard times don't ya know.
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if some, or all of the above was considered in response from tesco. jus sayin.
Quote from: optout on 07-12-21, 11:32PM
I wonder if stores should come out and support distribution? Afterall distribution have always supported stores fight for better t&cs ;).
I think that distributions t&cs seem quite good at the moment, after-all any extra pay will have to come from somewhere won't it, and tesco will have to find money to equalize in-store-pay when stores win their legal action.
So, in short, I don't think tesco will be able to afford any extra pay for distribution, hard times don't ya know.
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if some, or all of the above was considered in response from tesco. jus sayin.
Different unions in DC's and Stores. I'm pretty sure that under the USDAW, "agreement" with Tesco, we're not allowed to ballot for a strike.
All the DC vs Store willie-waving aside, I do wish DC's the best in this. I hope they hold their nerve and make Tesco back down. 8)
The strike is pointless. Tesco will flood the DCs with agency drivers to get through Xmas.
To pay for the agency drivers they will tighten the strings after the strike and start making cuts.
I think we are all under paid, both stores and depots. A better option would have been action like a "go slow"
What are the laws regarding picketing the DC's and physically stopping agency drivers entering? Is that allowed anymore?
No, it's illegal to stop someone from crossing the picket line. You also can't be chucked out of the union if you don't go along with the strike and continue to work.
You do have a right to cross a picket line, as do the people you work with have a right to 'send you to Coventry'. I have seen it happen and the mental effect over a period of time on the person concerned was devastating, and in their case they felt they could not continue in the job, and did not.
All actions have consequences.
Some DCs will never get support from others after doing other DCs work when they were in dispute. Now isolated they have lost most if not all the bargaining power they might once have had.
Quote from: Davethebave on 08-12-21, 09:08AM
The strike is pointless. Tesco will flood the DCs with agency drivers to get through Xmas.
To pay for the agency drivers they will tighten the strings after the strike and start making cuts.
I think we are all under paid, both stores and depots. A better option would have been action like a "go slow"
It is illegal to increase agency usage during a strike, contractors may be a different thing but if the warehouse and shunters are significantly affected they won't have much to carry. The current agency usage is different from depot to depot but is usually between 20% and 40%. Allowing for approx 40% non union membership and banking on those who voted not to strike, and those who were bluffing, Tesco were confident of covering the trouble spots.
The fact that 13 depots have voted by significant margins to strike has surely shaken that confidence....
As for a "go slow", I ain't working that hard for anyone! ???
Quote from: VladPutin on 08-12-21, 09:28AM
What are the laws regarding picketing the DC's and physically stopping agency drivers entering? Is that allowed anymore?
Only 6 people are allowed to picket at a time. No intimidation is allowed and physically blocking any entrance or exit is illegal.
The action "at the gate" is largely symbolic, only mass withdrawal of labour has any effect. Tesco have been saying that they will manage fine but the votes coming in at 72% and 84% will have shaken that.
@Nomad @Heskith very interesting. Thank you for answering my questions. Although I would point out, Nomad, that the last time I was sent to Coventry I regarded it as a relaxing holiday. It was so refreshing to not have to talk to people and pretend I cared about them... >:D
With 13 DC's effected, I can't see how this won't have a significant impact, no matter what head orifice do. Sure, they can try to replace striking staff with agency drivers. But drivers are in short supply; they have been for most of the year. There simply won't be enough available to run at full capacity.
Tesco have spent years reducing the warehouse capacity at the stores. Now they are trying to pack as much as possible into them before the strike happens. 8-) Don't forget to check fire escapes and emergency exits....
Whilst they will be able to partially mitigate the effects of grocery and frozen depots striking they are totally stuffed when it comes to fresh depots. Minimal refrigeration capacity and 5 day shelf life don't go together.
Expect the usual "leave it outside, it's cold out there" instructions. Let's hope it's not a mild December....
If Christmas fell in the summer they'd be screwed!
i support the dc's all the way. such a shame we can't strike in stores. in my opinion any s**b crossing a picket line deserve a lot more than 'being sent to coventry'!!
Plans for 1,200 Tesco distribution centre workers to strike have been suspended, the Unite union has said.
The union, which had proposed several strikes ahead of Christmas, said it would recommend members to accept an improved pay offer in a new ballot.
Originally Tesco offered a 4% rise, now workers will get get 5.5% backdated to July plus a further 0.5% in February. Tesco meeting USDAW tomorrow
National forum are you listening 6% pay rise for all shop staff when pay negotiations start!!!
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/uk-union-unite-suspends-tesco-strikes-after-new-pay-offer-2021-12-08/ (https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/uk-union-unite-suspends-tesco-strikes-after-new-pay-offer-2021-12-08/)
QuoteLONDON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - British trade union Unite said on Wednesday that pre-Christmas strike action by workers at four Tesco (TSCO.L) distribution centres had been suspended after an improved pay offer.
Looks like Head Orifice blinked first. ;) Congrats to DC's although on a personal note I'm disappointed. I was looking forward to a nice easy Xmas with no stock to work and customers beating each other to death over the last few scraps. >:D
ditto vlad :'(
That's just Unite with four sites who were in talks yesterday. USDAW have 5000 in distribution centres in nine sites ready to strike in December. USDAW were in talks today, agreement wasnt reached and talks continue on Monday. It's not over yet.
With Boris just announcing work from home from Monday Tesco staff have just become key workers again.
Quote from: Davethebave on 08-12-21, 09:49AM
No, it's illegal to stop someone from crossing the picket line. You also can't be chucked out of the union if you don't go along with the strike and continue to work.
Yeah, best to just set up a table and have a nice picnic in front of the entrance and exit of the warehouses, may be read a book. No one got anywhere important to be. >:D >:D An then someone car could break down at both entrances
Not being funny but we work just as hard as those looking to go on strike so where is the union when we want better pay. I am sure we are now one of the lowest paid in the supermarket sector. The big boss sitting pretty in his office earning the big bucks while we are on the shop floor working hard for little pay. If the union asked me would i like to strike then i would say yes and most of those i work with would say yes. for too long we have been taken advantage of
In any situation where a dirty backdoor deal between union and employer results in the union forfeiting their capacity for strike action in exchange for a mutually lucrative fluffy negotiation process with no transparency or accountability, the union ceases to be a union. Depot workers aren't confined by the USDAW partnership agreement and so can enact a fundamental power expected of a trade union, the right to ballot for strike action.
The moment the partnership agreement became enshrined in Tesco policy and formed the new basis of all new contracts was the moment everyone should have left the union and joined another.
If you think a ballot would be successfully go to your branch meeting and bring this subject up.
We can strike, we don't have a no strike agreement in fact nobody in the TUC is allowed to have a no strike agreement and remain in the TUC.
The problem is getting the ballot to pass, distribution colleagues have always been more in favour of striking, so it's easier.
From a bargaining position for USDAW, if they call for a ballot and lose they lose negotiations power, and their polling suggest this isn't going to change retail has a large portion of the staff being low earning part time workers who cannot afford to strike so won't, which means a ballot resulting in a vote to strike isn't very likely and the whole retail workforce votes together.
Get your colleagues to work to rule and the company will be powerless to do anything make it vocal that you would be willing to do more if only you had the motivation they'll start listening when the shelves aren't filled and the customers aren't happy, as long as you follow the rules every single one in the manner they train us, we have the power.
I ha e serious problems with USDAW but not striking isn't one of them.
And lastly why are people complaining about how much better these guys are paid than us we shouldn't be clamouring that their wages shouldn't go up because ours haven't we should be shouting that we want their rate of pay too, imagine how powerful we would be if we unified remember the workers make the money, use your power.
Quote from: The Mrs on 08-12-21, 07:02PM
That's just Unite with four sites who were in talks yesterday. USDAW have 5000 in distribution centres in nine sites ready to strike in December. USDAW were in talks today, agreement wasnt reached and talks continue on Monday. It's not over yet.
With Boris just announcing work from home from Monday Tesco staff have just become key workers again.
We're heroes! That's why everyone from the board of directors to the customers themselves treat us with such love and respect!
(Laughs in Sarcastic. 8-))
A very wise VLH member once wrote.
I will help you win what you want and/or deserve, but not at the expense of what I have won.
Good for them only wish the cdd could strike aswell up your game Usdaw and match what ocado are paying their drivers £12.40 a hour.
@horatiocain 8-)
well written, concise and extremely informative :)
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Can't wait for shop floor pay to be equalized.
Are union dues the same in distribution as they are in-store?
[admin]Topic is Driver and Warehouse Strike.[/admin]
Strike by the other 9 DC's is off after an improved offer
>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
How dare Usdaw suspend the strike without us even seeing the offer?
Nicely engineered removal of all our power, Tesco must be laughing their tits off! Even if we reject the offer we can't strike now until after Christmas and Tesco would cope with that.
No way Usdaw was going to risk their sole recognised union status and all those monthly payments eh?
Something stinks :(
How does offer (when workers find out what it is 8-) ) compare to the Unite deal :question:
The sooner USDAW is binned the better, Tesco needs a militant union with teeth.
"The strength and solidarity of our members has secured a much improved pay deal. We have negotiated a 5.5% increase, backdated to July, and a further 0.5% from the end of February next year.
"Having reached this improved offer, we have suspended strike action and are recommending that our members support the new offer. Retail distribution workers are key workers who delivered essential services throughout the pandemic; they deserve this pay rise." This is from USDAW today.
Quote from: Nomad on 15-12-21, 10:52AM
Something stinks :(
How does offer (when workers find out what it is 8-) ) compare to the Unite deal :question:
Same as the unite deal by the looks of things
https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2021/Dec/Usdaw-ballots-open-for-members-on-a-much-improved
The bare percentages don't tell the whole story. I'm not sure if Unite got the add-ons that Usdaw have.
All driver's breaks will now be paid, that is an 8% increase in most cases :o
Drivers on the old contract will also get t+1/3 for Saturday instead of the current t+20%.
This adds up to quite a significant package and I congratulate the JNC reps for pulling it off :thumbup:
My earlier rant still stands but I'm reliably informed that Usdaw itself was not responsible for suspending the strike, other than that it was the JNC reps who made the call. Striking with such a deal offered would have been nuts.
Also, if we still chose to reject the offer we still have the mandate to strike at Valentines, Mother's day or Easter.....
Whenever a small % can make a decision for the majority, it's never democratic.
can stores not join in? - i mean paid breaks for a driver to sit around is a bit unfair for those on our feet all day long (dont get me wrong i know its hard work) -
but thought tesco was about equality? and get most of use work in stores get the short end
Quote from: spike_pkh on 07-12-21, 06:59PM
I hope tesco don't cave to pressure. A 4% payrise on top on drivers already cushy contracts is much better than stores ever get offered and accept.
If they want a bigger pay rise then Tesco could accept that but bring the depots more in line with store contracts. No deliveries to make, get the drivers cleaning or picking like the staff do in store. Fed up of hearing how the drivers have been sat around for hours being paid to do nothing whilst awaiting deliveries to be picked.
Arrived at a store and there is a queue of lorries in front of you? Park up and go into the store to help tip the deliveries.
Remove the lovely cooked meals in the staff canteens in depots and replace with a sandwhich shop like stores are stuck with.
Having worked in both depots and stores, the depots have it so good and I don't think they realise this.
That's a bit of a poor attitude to the situation you have.
Take your store issues to the store manager, it's not any drivers fault that's there's insufficient numbers of staff working on backdoor..
Drivers should come in & help tip waiting deliveries ;D
That is true, nor driver or depot workers issue about this. And we should not envy or jealous what they get.
This is literally tesco decision. In my view, tesco think shop worker contribution to profit are small. So it is what it is.
As a shop worker, we just need to contribute small to the business, as it reflect on the payment.
Quote from: Rigger on 21-12-21, 08:09AM
Quote from: spike_pkh on 07-12-21, 06:59PM
I hope tesco don't cave to pressure. A 4% payrise on top on drivers already cushy contracts is much better than stores ever get offered and accept.
If they want a bigger pay rise then Tesco could accept that but bring the depots more in line with store contracts. No deliveries to make, get the drivers cleaning or picking like the staff do in store. Fed up of hearing how the drivers have been sat around for hours being paid to do nothing whilst awaiting deliveries to be picked.
Arrived at a store and there is a queue of lorries in front of you? Park up and go into the store to help tip the deliveries.
Remove the lovely cooked meals in the staff canteens in depots and replace with a sandwhich shop like stores are stuck with.
Having worked in both depots and stores, the depots have it so good and I don't think they realise this.
That's a bit of a poor attitude to the situation you have.
Take your store issues to the store manager, it's not any drivers fault that's there's insufficient numbers of staff working on backdoor..
Drivers should come in & help tip waiting deliveries ;D
I never said there was insufficient numbers of staff working backdoor. My point is in stores if you cannot do your own job for whatever reason you support other areas. Drivers just sit around reading the paper and smoking whilst being paid.
It depends on the terms of your contract, CDD drivers may have it that they're not to do anything else outside their role except to drive, similar to how phone shop colleagues don't do anything outside phone shop, including checkout calls.
Due to insurance ramifications in the event of an injury staff should not perform any duty outside of their contracted role.
"I've broke my wrist." - MM: "what were you doing" - "I was helping Ebenezer" - MM: "not your job, you should not have been there. So tough."
Quote from: hesketh on 15-12-21, 01:55PM
The bare percentages don't tell the whole story. I'm not sure if Unite got the add-ons that Usdaw have.
All driver's breaks will now be paid, that is an 8% increase in most cases :o
Drivers on the old contract will also get t+1/3 for Saturday instead of the current t+20%.
This adds up to quite a significant package and I congratulate the JNC reps for pulling it off :thumbup:
My earlier rant still stands but I'm reliably informed that Usdaw itself was not responsible for suspending the strike, other than that it was the JNC reps who made the call. Striking with such a deal offered would have been nuts.
Also, if we still chose to reject the offer we still have the mandate to strike at Valentines, Mother's day or Easter.....
An all they had to do is threaten to shut down online deliveries for Christmas, perhaps us shop colleagues should threaten to shut down the stores for Christmas next year and we will get such a good deal.
easiest way is work to rule. don't work any bank holidays unless you have to and don't do overtime unless absolutely necessary. >:D
Quote from: NightAndDay on 21-12-21, 10:36AM
It depends on the terms of your contract, CDD drivers may have it that they're not to do anything else outside their role except to drive, similar to how phone shop colleagues don't do anything outside phone shop, including checkout calls.
Pretty much my whole point. They want all the benefits of higher pay, but already have the cushiest contracts
I sense a little green eyed being 8-)
Companies only pay what they pay to retain those employees they regard as vital to the company. If you're not worth much to the company endeavour to gain the skills 'or contract' that will alter that situation.
I have worked in a depot, wasn't for me, I just believe that the divide for stores and depots around expectations and perks should be removed
spike mate...have you ever wondered it just might be you ???
Was depot not for you, or were you not for depot?
You want everyone who enters the perimeters of your store to muck in? Why would they? They have been on the road since god knows what time, they have to wait to off load, and take their breaks, but no!! All hail spike, let's give him a hand before my allotted breaks and toilet needs! They can't leave the wagon unattended, that's why they're sitting in the cab!
As for CDD? I'm taking it you mean customer delivery drivers for .com? My last store had the drivers picking if they weren't delivering, the phone shop colleagues supported checkouts, though they weren't supposed to, but then the SM has the final say!
Get that chip off your shoulder mate, and put it back in the freezer with the rest!
I didnt mention CDD, so I wont even comment on that part of your reply.
No, I havent ever wondered if it "might just be" me,, I worked in depot but moved back to stores as much preferred the atmosphere of face to face customer interaction. The workload in the depot was far easier than in store though.
Every driver I have spoken to recently, including a close friend of mine who moved to driving around a year ago, has told me how boring it is. Sat around in depot for hours reading the paper and watching netflix on their phones as there is no work to do for them. The last driver I spoke to had one drop on each of his previous 2 shifts, to stores approx 25mins & 35mins from the depot and the previous week had only to do a collection of RSU on a shift. One local drop in a 7.5hr shift. How is that good planning? I can understand one drop shifts if they are to the furthest stores, but he only had any drops at all because he was so bored but refused to go home unpaid as he needed the money.
Being a delivery driver for a company like tesco isn't the same as long distance lorry drivers, "on the road since god knows what time" :D :D
Firstly I apologise I misquoted as you, but it was a night and day post on CDD.
"Being a delivery driver for a company like Tesco isn't the same as long distance lorry drivers" ???
Not every store is close to a depot, many are hours away, in the outer reaches of Scotland, Wales, and some English counties, and those are return delivery trips, plus waiting time in queues and tipping time!
Quote from: lucgeo on 23-12-21, 07:23PM
spike mate...have you ever wondered it just might be you ???
Was depot not for you, or were you not for depot?
You want everyone who enters the perimeters of your store to muck in? Why would they? They have been on the road since god knows what time, they have to wait to off load, and take their breaks, but no!! All hail spike, let's give him a hand before my allotted breaks and toilet needs! They can't leave the wagon unattended, that's why they're sitting in the cab!
As for CDD? I'm taking it you mean customer delivery drivers for .com? My last store had the drivers picking if they weren't delivering, the phone shop colleagues supported checkouts, though they weren't supposed to, but then the SM has the final say!
Get that chip off your shoulder mate, and put it back in the freezer with the rest!
From what I understand, the reason why phone shop colleagues are ringfenced is because O2 funds them to some degree, it should be treated by managers as a completely separate part of the core business.