Nearly 200 drivers from logistics giant Wincanton, who deliver building supplies for Marshalls, have won a new pay deal following their threat to take strike action.
Drivers have won a 5% pay increase, an additional £1,000 payment and access to a private healthcare scheme, following negotiations between union Unite and Wincanton management.
Unite’s members work for Wincanton on behalf of Marshalls building supply company, whose customers include household names like Travis Perkins, Jewsons, Wickes, Taylor Wimpy and Barrett Homes.
Drivers had been due to stop all overtime and overnight work away from home from yesterday but a last minute offer was overwhelmingly accepted.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This shows the power in a union. Unite is the winning union and has put hundreds of millions into our members pockets in recent years.
“I’m delighted our members at Wincanton, doing hard graft day in and day out, have got the pay deal they deserved from a company making billions in revenue off the backs of their workforce.”
The drivers are responsible for delivering approximately 3,000 products including patio flagstones, bricks, kerb stones, roof tiles, hard landscaping, and drainage products.
Had the strike gone ahead customers would have seen deliveries grind to a halt with a major impact on private and public building projects and fewer supplies available to the general public.
Adrian Jones, Unite national officer, added: “Our members do a physically demanding job – this pay deal is their just reward for both their hard work and their resolution to stand firm against an employer when an unacceptable offer was put forward.
“They had the full support of Unite in this dispute and they have now got an above-inflation deal through their determination.”
A Wincanton spokeswoman said: “After recent productive discussions we’re pleased to have reached an agreement on a new two-year pay deal for our Marshalls drivers.
“We value the hard work of our colleagues and this agreement reflects their contribution to Wincanton’s continued success.”
