Stobart/Tesco driver dispute ends
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THE LONG-RUNNING dispute between Unite members operating out of Tesco's Doncaster DC and their employer, Eddie Stobart, has concluded ahead of Christmas, after the drivers voted to accept an improved redundancy package.
Of the 183 drivers facing redundancy, 150 voted in favour of accepting the new deal with only 19 against it, Unite national officer Adrian Jones told CM.
Jones declined to go into the details of the new package, but said it was a "significant improvement" on the original redundancy terms, and better than the most recent offer put forward in late November (which is believed to have marked a 50% increase on statutory maximum redundancy pay, or £650 for every year of service rather than £430).
Under the terms of the agreement, the drivers will remain in employment until 4 January but will not be obliged to attend work.
All drivers are being given the opportunity to return to driving work for their original employer, Tesco, in addition to 212 other jobs being made available between Tesco and Eddie Stobart, which include 90 warehouse jobs at Tesco and 122 driving jobs at Eddie Stobart. Drivers accepting any of the jobs will still get 75% of their redundancy settlement.
Eddie Stobart MD David Pickering described the agreement as "a positive way to resolve the dispute", adding: "I'm extremely pleased for all parties that the drivers have accepted our latest offer."
Although Unite has described the outcome as a victory, regional officer Harriet Eisner said the drivers remained anxious about their prospects and "angry that [Eddie Stobart] has given away good jobs".
The settlement came just days after the drivers began an indefinite strike. The dispute between the drivers and Eddie Stobart dates back to August, when Tesco contracted out its transport operation and Stobart subsequently decided to remove the transport function at the DC in favour of its national network.