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Iceland driver strike looms
Page 7
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STRIKE ACTION among 120 drivers working for frozen food retailer Iceland looks increasingly likely with the T&G union saying the supermarket has rejected its proposals and appears determined to close its Deeside, North Wales, depot.
A T&G spokesman describes negotiations between the union and Iceland as hitting "not so much a stumbling block, rather a mountain". He would not say strike action was now inevitable, hut said it could not be ruled out.
The union says problems arose in February when Iceland gave its drivers at the Deeside distribution centre a stark choice: accept Um in cost savings, which would mean losing around L-100 a week in pay and holiday and sick pay enti dements, or the site would close and move t oWarrington. A recent ballot among drivers showed 60% were in favour of strike action, with 80% in favour of action short of striking.
'Ibc spokesman says: "It seems as though Iceland is determined to move from Deeside to Warrington come what may, and the whole process we have gone through over the last four or five months is being described, rather frustratingly, as a charade. There has been no intention to properly negotiate."
He adds that there is still confusion over Iceland's intentions after shop stewards were called into meetings at the eleventh hour to further discuss some details of the T&G proposals.
Iceland was unable to comment as CM went to press. christopher.tindall@rbixo.uk