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National negotiations or strike say drivers' unions

30th June 2005, Page 16
30th June 2005
Page 16
Page 16, 30th June 2005 — National negotiations or strike say drivers' unions
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Two of the country's biggest trade unions are threatening strikes at supermarket giant Morrisons.

David Harris reports.

TWO OF THE MAJOR drivers' trades unions have threatened industrial action against Morrisons if it refuses to negotiate with them nationally.

The supermarket group insists on talking to the GMB and T&G locally rather than nationally — unless it backs down both unions plan to ballot their members for industrial action.

A T&G spokesman explains that Morrisons' takeover of Safeway caused some of the problems because "broadly speaking the T&G represented Morrisons staff and the GMB represented Safeway".

The unions say issues that need sorting out include low pay in some distribution centres and operational problems —including overstaffing at some depots. "It's a bit of a mess in some places," says the T&G spokesman. "In one case a workforce of seven has been increased to 30 with no increase in work. People are just wondering what is going on."

Morrisons says it has written evidence that the unions are "plotting a campaign against us, using inflammatory rhetoric such as 'hit them where it hurts' and 'attack using the media'."

Morrisons insists it is a firm with "a history of good industrial relations" and says it will continue dealing with employment issues "in accordance with union site agreements at a local level".

The unions say if their members do decide to take action it would cripple the supermarket's distribution network.

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