Around 500 HGV drivers working for Eddie Stobart on its Morrison’s contract have ended their strike threat after the company agreed to reduce its reliance on temporary workers, according to Unite.
The union said the company, part of Culina Group, had signed a deal to end “union-busting” and agreed to increase permanent staff, who will be on the same hourly pay rates, allowances, holiday and sick pay entitlements as their colleagues.
They will also be covered under a collective bargaining agreement with Unite.
The drivers, based at Morrison’s distribution depots in Wakefield, Stockton-on-Tees and Northwich in Cheshire, voted to strike over what Unite said was Eddie Stobart’s increasing use of agency drivers to drive down employment standards.
It claimed that as well as excluding temporary workers from collective bargaining rights, the company was also planning to hire new directly employed drivers on inferior pay and terms and conditions.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Eddie Stobart was gradually replacing its unionised Morrisons workforce with individuals on insecure contracts and significantly diminished pay, terms and conditions.
“The drivers’ strong strike response put an end to that – well done to them. Unite will not tolerate any employer seeking to union-bust or undermine our members’ wages or employment standards.”
Stobart was approached for comment.
