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New Gist strike threat
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• Gist drivers at Carlisle are threatening another two-day strike over pay after carrying out through on their threat to take industrial action last week (CM 7-13 Nov).
The drivers, who distribute chilled products from Cavaghan & Gray to Marks & Spencer, took action on 7-8 November because they claim they are getting £72 less in basic rates than Gist drivers at other depots in Crewe, Barnsley and Glasgow.
Gist has offered the 29 drivers concerned a pay rise of 3.1%. The company insists that this would put them "in the 26% of pay in the region". As CM went to press Transport & General Workers Union regional industrial organiser Alan McGuckin was warning that if the situation remained unchanged drivers would also be prepared to take strike action over the crucial Christmas period from 21 December until after the holiday.
A Gist driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the drivers are frustrated by the company's stance on pay: "All we wants parity on pay," he says. "We just want a fair deal."
Striking drivers have complained of "intimidatory" action by the company, claiming they were watched by security guards at the picket line last week.
A Gist spokesman says the firm managed to keep the Carlisle operation going "as much as possible" during the two-day stoppage at Cavaghan & Gray's depot. It is understood that management turned to local driver agency Riverside Recruitment and used subcontractors to plug the gap.
Michele Mervin, communications director for Gist, says: "We want to stress that we are still talking to the drivers and the union through [the conciliation service] ACAS—the lines of communication are still open.'
She adds that pay is awarded on a contract-by-contract basis and that it is impossible to 'treat like with like".