Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics has said no further meetings are scheduled with Unite despite the 24-hour strike carried out by the union’s members at a number of KNDL sites this week.
The strike, which began at 10am on Wednesday 11 September and affected 29 depots, followed a ballot of 970 staff by the union over plans by the logistics company to move to a drinks distribution model.
The model involves holding stock at three existing large hubs in Livingstone, Wakefield and Thatcham, supported by 23 transit points across the country.
Unite fears its adoption will lead to job losses and delivery problems. The union has warned it may step up its industrial action further, if its dispute with the firm is not resolved.
A KNDL statement said senior company managers met with Unite in an effort to resolve the dispute on Monday 9 September and made a number of proposals, including a commitment to undertake “further meaningful consultation” prior to implementing further changes.
“The union was not prepared to accept these proposals and also refused to accept the company’s offer to involve ACAS,” it said. “No further meetings are scheduled between KNDL and Unite."
A KNDL spokeswoman told Motortransport.co.uk that the number of depots operated would not change as a result of the planned restructure, and said the main impact would be on management and admin staff, rather than front line logistics workers. “The overall warehouse/driver/drayman staff will remain largely unaffected,” she said.
Unite did not respond to requests to comment.
