Union GMB is calling on 600 workers at XPO Logistics' Eurocentral and Bellshill depots to strike in a move which could threaten supplies to 60 Morrisons stores in the run up to Christmas.

The union is claiming that XPO has breached an agreement over payroll and pensions, showing "utter contempt" for its workers.

In a consultative ballot earlier this year, workers voted for strike action by a majority of 97.8%. The action was called off after XPO and GMB reached an Acas conciliation agreement in September.

However, GMB is claiming XPO has since breached the pact. The union is calling on hundreds of members including drivers and warehouse workers, to strike at the depots, which supply around 60 Morrisons stores across Scotland.

GMB Scotland Organiser Bob Deavy said: "XPO management are treating their employees will utter contempt and their failure to stick to a basic ACAS agreement has shattered any confidence there may have been left among staff.

"In good faith we agreed with XPO a compensatory payment of £25 for any staff member that experiences a shortfall in their wages while the employer works to make their payroll system fit for purpose.

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"It’s a sorry state of affairs when an employer can’t even get their stop-gap measures right and just two months after conciliation with ACAS they are breaching the terms of their own mitigation strategy.

"We’ve been left with little choice but to move a full industrial action ballot and based on the depth of feeling among staff the prospect of a strike affecting distributions to XPO’s key client Morrisons is almost certain."

A spokesperson for Morrisons said it was “way too early to speculate about potential disruption to the supply of groceries to our stores".

A spokesperson for XPO said: “We entered into the ACAS conciliation agreement in good faith and are confident that any remaining issues can be resolved.

"We’re committed to delivering on our promise to our customers during the holiday season.”

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