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Matalan drivers have rejected a pay offer after the deal was changed at the eleventh hour, according to the GMB union

Matalan had originally offered a pay deal to its drivers at its Knowsley DC which was acceptable to members, but a GMB spokesman told MT: “this offer was removed at the eleventh hour and replaced with an offer which our members have rejected. So the ball is now in Matalan’s court to come back with a better offer.”

The dispute comes as Matalan warehouse workers narrowly voted to accept a 3.25% pay increase this week, bringing the members’ hourly pay to just above the National Minimum Wage. Following a recount, staff at the company’s Knowsley warehouse voted to accept the offer by just three votes.

GMB organiser Eddie Gaudie said: “This was a Brexit situation – the vote passed by three votes after a recount. Our members were worn down by three and a half months of negotiations.

"This is a clear warning to a troubled company that we are not going to put up with its antics anymore. We now have to sort out Matalan’s transport section who have rejected the offer on the table. We are waiting to hear back from the company.”

Matalan reported a 1% rise in revenues this month to £253.4m for the 13 weeks ending 27 May 2017 after a 22% rise in full-price sales.

Matalan chief executive Jason Hargreaves said the company had delivered a "strong set of results in what remains a challenging market".

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