Wincanton set to avert strike action by meeting with Unite
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By Chris Druce WINCANTON’S management team was set to hold meetings with Unite oficials as CM went to press, to avert strike action next week by drivers on its contract with ConocoPhillips.
Unite has proposed seven days of strike action from the 24 January to 31 January, after a ‘yes’ vote from drivers supplying Jet forecourts over what it says is an “attack on drivers’ pay and terms and conditions”. Unite says ConocoPhillips’ decision to abandon TUPE for drivers, introduce new contracts and a 20% pay cut is typical of the petrol industry’s “race to the bottom”.
The action (CM 22 December), backed by 83% of the 123 union drivers, is set to affect distribution depots at Immingham, Lincolnshire; Kingsbury, Warwickshire; and Stockton-on-Tees.
Unite national oficer Matt Draper says: “Our members could not have sent a clearer message. Wincanton may well be surprised by the strength of feelings among its drivers, but it ignores their concerns at its peril.
“ConocoPhillips holds the key to resolving this dispute. All it needs to do is rethink its decision to abandon TUPE and instead commit to protecting the terms and conditions of the drivers.” A Wincanton spokeswoman says: “We can conirm that we have received a letter from Unite informing us of the proposed industrial action over seven days by drivers on one of our major fuels contracts. We remain committed to inding a workable resolution to this dispute and to continuing open discussions with our employees and their representatives both at a local and a national level.”