The Transport & General Workers Union has accused supermarket chain Tesco of arrogance and of failing to negotiate in a row over terms and conditions at the supermarket chain's Livingston, West Lothian site.
The union claims Tesco is trying to impose new terms and conditions on around 250 drivers and to de-recognise the union when the Livingston depot moves just 500 yards across the road to a new £75m distribution centre.
Ron Webb, TGWU national secretary for transport, points to
a range of small working practices such as start and finish times and holiday entitlement that have been earmarked for change. He is particularly unhappy that Tesco seems to have given up on negotiations.
"Three times I asked them if they were refusing to negotiate and three times they said yes," says Webb.
He adds that conciliatory service ACAS has been in contact with TGWU officers in Scotland and the union was now waiting for a response from Tesco. It has called a special conference of shop stewards at Tesco on April 11 to thrash out the situation.
Webb believes drivers are in a fighting mood. "I have no doubt that we will be balloting for strike action and I have no doubt what the response will be," he says.
Tesco has refuted claims that drivers will suffer and has rejected allegations that it is refusing to negotiate.
The supermarket chain says: "The allegations being made by the union are highly misleading. All contractual terms and conditions
are fully protected and will increase in line with future pay deals.
"All we are doing is changing the way we pay our existing staff, not what we pay them. We believe that negotiation is the way forward and industrial action will achieve nothing."
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