Talks are due to take place between Stobart Automotive and union Unite after workers at what was formerly Autologic voted in favour of strike action.

According to Unite employees at the car transporter division of Eddie Stobart Logistics voted 85% in favour of industrial action, on a 70% turnout because, they claim, the company has not put a pay offer on the table for this year.

Furthermore the union said that its members had an issue with drivers being brought in from other parts of the Stobart business to, in its words, “undercut wages”.

Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “We have given the company a number of opportunities to avoid a strike. The drivers feel that without progress today [14 March], they have no choice but to announce industrial action in order to protect their livelihoods.

He added: “Despite record car sales, Stobart Automotive is refusing to make a pay offer while it undermines our long-standing agreements by bringing in drivers on lower terms and conditions.

"If a strike goes ahead it will cause major disruption to the delivery of new cars to showrooms across the country. We urge the haulier to take this opportunity to make progress towards resolving this dispute.”

Stobart did not comment ahead of the talks.

Eddie Stobart, the distribution and transport part of the Stobart Group, is on course to become a private company again by April.

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