Tesco avoids strike action with new pay deal
Tesco has struck a pay deal with trade union Usdaw to fend off a strike by workers at nine of its distribution centres.
Usdaw members had threatened to walk out of distribution centres from December 20 until Christmas Eve if Tesco did not improve its pay offer.
Usdaw is from today balloting 5,000 members at nine Tesco distribution centres and has recommended that they vote to call off the pre-Christmas walkout.
This follows a similar move by the Unite union, which called off its strike last week when Tesco upped its pay offer from 4% to 5.5% with an additional 0.5% from February.
Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw national officer said: “After the overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action, Tesco reopened pay negotiations with Usdaw.
“I am pleased to say that we have been successful in achieving a significantly improved offer and Usdaw is recommending that members accept it in the ballot.”
The nine distribution centres involved in the Usdaw dispute are in Goole, Daventry, Hinckley, Lichfield, Livingston, Magor, Peterborough and Southampton.
