GXO said it had made a “fair and competitive pay offer” to drivers working on an NHS contract, after their union said it was now balloting for strike action.
Unite said nearly 200 drivers employed by GXO in Alfreton in Derbyshire, Bridgwater in Somerset, Normanton in West Yorkshire, Maidstone in Kent, Rugby in Warwickshire, Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk and Washington in Newcastle were being balloted after a near unanimous rejection of a 4% pay offer.
GXO runs the NHS supply chain contract for Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL), which is wholly owned by NHS England.
The workers drive HGVs and other vehicles delivering NHS general equipment and supplies to hospitals across the country.
According to Unite, GXO claimed SCCL had said its offer could not be increased as it was more than was offered to NHS workers.
However, the union said that workers had inferior terms and conditions compared to NHS contracts, including a lower pension.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “GXO and SCCL’s offer was met with a near unanimous rejection by workers. It must be improved.
“Unite is backing these workers all the way in their fight for a deal that reflects their hard work and dedication.”
Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone added: “GXO and SCCL are forcing these workers towards industrial action.
“They will bear responsibility for any disruption caused to NHS supplies. Strike action can be avoided, but that will require an acceptable offer being put forward.”
A GXO spokesperson said: “Unite has notified us that it intends to ballot certain driver colleagues working on the NHS Supply Chain contract.
“We remain committed to constructive discussions with union representatives and ACAS and have made a fair and competitive pay offer to our colleagues.
“The ballot process is ongoing and no industrial action has been confirmed,” the spokesperson added.
“Should industrial action be confirmed, we have plans in place to mitigate any potential disruption and maintain continuity of service.”
The ballot for industrial action closes on 17 September.
It follows an announcement by Unite this week that warehouse workers at specialist medical warehousing firm Movianto were preparing to strike after rejecting a “poverty” pay deal.
