Tesco drivers settle for 2.6%
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• Three hundred Tesco dryfreight drivers, and additional warehouse and litter colleagues at six depots and two other sites. have accepted a renegotiated contract and agreed a 2.6' n wage increase on a third ballot.
The dry freight depots are at Crick in Northants; Kiln Farm at Milton Keynes; Westbury, Wilts; Winsford, Cheshire; Welham Green, Hats; and Weybridge in Surrey. The complicated deal, negotiated by the Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers, changes a Monday to Friday alternating shift system to a minimum annual hours agreement, similar to that operating at Tesco's composite sites since 1988.
More than 700 workers, including about 120 drivers at the Harlow and llinkley composite sites arc balloting over a separate deal based on an improvement to 2.6% plus an agreed amount related to P60 and holiday payments.
The union is recommending workers accept this deal: the result of the ballot will be known this week.
The composite deal equates to an average 2.9% increase for drivers who will move from an hourly 425.57 rate to 15.71. The offer follows an earlier one rejected which gave 1.8%.
USDAW national negotiating officer Terry Savage says dryfreight drivers rates will increase from £6.49 to £6.66 per how: and fitters from £6.65 to £6.82 per hour. A separate overtime contract will be agreed. The existing bonus incentive scheme will be unaffected and dissatisfied employees will be allowed to take voluntary redundancy without restrictions.
Savage says dry-freight workers will begin to feel the real benefits after about two years when subsequent wage agreements are reached.