Plans by FedEx to close down its warehouses in Staffordshire and Kent could result in hundreds of job losses, according to union Unite – and it said it would be fighting to keep them open.
FedEx said it had not announced any job losses and that there would be no changes for employees in the short term.
Last week, the company announced plans to open two new super hubs and consolidate its existing hub infrastructure from five hubs into the two new facilities, operational by 2029.
It means closing existing sites at Atherstone, Kingsbury, Marston Gate, Parkhouse and Dartford.
FedEx said it was a substantial commitment to the UK and meant the business was well positioned for future growth.
But Unite said it was holding talks with FedEx in a “last-gasp bid” to try and keep the warehouses open.
The union said that given a final decision on closures was potentially two-and-a-half years away, it was creating immediate uncertainty among staff.
“FedEx UK is a profitable company and their parent organisation in the US makes billions so it is inexcusable that it is making hundreds of job losses to simply maximise profits without a care or thought given to the impact this will have on workers, their families and communities across the UK,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
Matt Draper, Unite regional officer, said it would argue to keep Parkhouse and Dartford open: “We don’t believe there is a good business rationale in closing centres with such a pivotal central location or one near the biggest entry and exit point to the continent,” he said.
“We are meeting with FedEx on May 28 to discuss the situation.”
In a statement, FedEx said that in announcing its proposal, it was also setting out its commitment to supporting team members with retraining, access to education and resources: “We have talked to Unite about how we work together to give all our team members bright futures, either within FedEx or externally,” the statement said.
“Announcing this multi-year project now means we have been able to speak openly to all our teams about these changes and will continue to do so as the consultation progresses.
“We are pleased our team members have responded with openness to understanding the options open to them and appreciate Unite being proactive in supporting their members.”
