Unite members at Eddie Stobart Logistics’ Walkers Snacks Food contract are being balloted for strike action, after the union accused the haulier of ignoring its members’ established terms and conditions.

Staff at Walkers Snacks Food, a contract highlighted out as one of ESL’s marquee wins in yesterday’s (28 March) full year results, joined ESL via TUPE last year after the snack manufacturer outsourced its transport.

However, Unite has claimed that ESL has ignored the 50 HGV drivers’ negotiated terms since, and simply opted to enforce their own.

Unite regional officer Steven Gerrard said: “Unite has made numerous requests to Stobart management to come to the table to discuss our members’ concerns.

“However, we will not stand idle when our members’ collective agreements on their terms and conditions of employment are under attack and being totally disregarded and disrespected.”

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Gerrard added that the relationship with Walkers itself, based at Birchwood, Warrington, had been good.

He told motortransport.co.uk that the working patterns and hours his members had been told to do by their new employer weren’t consistent with their previous agreement, which under TUPE should be protected.

“We’ve had nothing whatsoever in terms of engagement,” he said.

He added that strike action could take place and would affect supplies of snack foods to high street retailers including Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Tesco if it did.

Unite is calling on ESL to enter into discussions. The ballot is underway and will close on 11 April.

ESL was approached for comment.

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