A protest in Westminster yesterday, and an additional three day strike by 30 drivers whose jobs at a Tesco distribution centre in Doncaster are under threat, were expected to cause disruption to deliveries across Yorkshire and Humber this week.
Eddie Stobart, which took over the operation from Tesco in August, quickly announced a reorganisation with Unite claiming a total of 183 lorry drivers’ jobs at the Doncaster centre are threatened by the plans.
Steve Clark, Unite regional officer, said: “The drivers will be taking their case to London to hopefully raise the profile of the dispute with MPs and other opinion formers.”
This week, the drivers, who have already walked out twice, rejected a new offer of increased redundancy pay from Eddie Stobart.
David Pickering, Eddie Stobart MD, said: 'Our enhanced financial package was worth an additional £1m and we feel the drivers have really lost out with the latest decision from Unite.'
Despite Unite urging the drivers to strike, the haulage firm had offered to increase redundancy pay by 28 per cent and significant financial support for drivers who took alternative jobs with either Tesco or Stobart.
