Argos delivery drivers strike 'could spark havoc and mayhem for Christmas shoppers'

Festive frenzy: The store claim customers will still receive their Christmas gifts
Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Fiona Simpson13 December 2016

Argos drivers are set to strike for three days in the run up to Christmas throwing festive deliveries into turmoil.

Unite union members based at the retail giant’s flagship distribution centre in Staffordshire plan to stage a three-day walk-out from midnight on December 20 in a dispute over holiday pay.

The Burton-under-Needwood depot also supplies seven other Argos distribution centres meaning a strike would spark “havoc and mayhem” over the busiest season of the year, a Unite spokesman said.

The union claim that if the strike goes ahead many customers may not receive deliveries of sought after gifts including TVs and iPhones.

However, Argos has denied industrial action would affect shoppers.

Some 83 per cent of the centre’s drivers, who are employed by logistics company Wincanton, voted to strike after legal cases established that overtime should be taken into account when assessing holiday pay.

The company agreed to backdate holiday pay from April this year, however, union boss’s claim it should be backdated by at least two years.

Unite claimed drivers could be owed up to £700.

In a separate dispute, Wincanton drivers working at the Argos centre in Basildon, Essex, will vote on whether to take industrial action over a disciplinary system relating to “uncontrolled vehicle movements”.

This ballot result is due to close on Friday.

Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: "The drivers have patiently tried to resolve this matter for over two years. Now they would like the money they are owed in time for Christmas, which is not unreasonable.

“It is very difficult to understand why Wincanton has allowed this saga to get out of hand because this strike by our members will cause havoc and mayhem to deliveries to Argos shops in the run-up to Christmas.

“There will be a lot of very unhappy Argos customers, if they don’t receive the iPhones, TVs and ‘white’ goods that they have ordered as presents for relatives this Christmas.

“We can assure Argos customers that strike dates are only being announced as a last resort and that Unite’s door is open 24/7 to try and settle this long-standing dispute."

An Argos spokesperson said: “We would encourage both sides to keep talking with the aim of coming to a swift resolution.

"We also have contingency plans in place and can reassure customers we’re working hard to ensure this will not impact our deliveries this Christmas.”

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