More than 400 Argos employees have gone on strike over the proposed transfer of almost 100 drivers to Eddie Stobart Logistics.

Warehouse and administration staff at the retailer’s Lutterworth site began a strike at midnight this morning, which will run until 6.00pm on 12 June.

Drivers also began a strike at midnight, which will end at 11.59pm on 11 June.

According to Unite, the workers are concerned that if Argos outsources the drivers to Stobart as planned, it will lead to more staff transfers.

When the strikes were announced last week, the union’s regional coordinating officer, Paresh Patel, said: “If Argos persists in their hard line against the drivers, we will be demanding two things.

“Firstly, that our members are offered decent severance packages should they wish not to work for ESL.

“Secondly, those drivers who do transfer have their pay, and terms and conditions protected for at least three years under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (Tupe).”

The 96 drivers involved in the proposed Tupe represent the remainder of Argos’s in-house transport operation, the rest of which is outsourced to Wincanton.

A spokesman for Wincanton said:  “We have a long and valued relationship with Argos and will continue to work with them to support the ongoing transformation of their distribution and supply chain. No Wincanton employees will be affected by Argos' announcement.”

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