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A ballot for industrial action involving up to 100 Next drivers could be launched later this month if a new pay offer which would force them to work weekends is rejected. URTU regional organiser Graham Bird explains the national 4% wage increase and a new rota working system has provoked unrest amongst drivers at two Next distribution sites - South Elmsall near Doncaster and Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

"This will affect some of our longest serving drivers who work Monday to Friday shifts. Many  don't want to work weekends for personal reasons but under the proposed rota system they will have to. They also believe that 4% is not a large enough increase," he says. Drivers at the sites either work Monday to Friday or Sunday to Thursday shifts. A ballot on whether the URTU drivers should accept the pay offer was begun on April 2. The result is expected on April 13.

"If it is accepted then that's great. But if it isn't then we will be balloting for industrial action," Bird declares. URTU is not recognised by Next. The recognised union is USDAW and their members have accepted the offer. "We have got the vast majority of the drivers at these sites," says Bird. "It is vitally important that we reserve the right to ballot our members. We can't have their terms and conditions be dictated to and bulldozed through by a minority union."

Neither Next nor USDAW responded to Motor Transport's calls before going to press.