'Morrisons shortages' threat amid driver dispute

Morrisons customers face potential food shortages amid a dispute which could see hundreds of HGV drivers go on strike, a union has said.

Nearly 500 Eddie Stobart drivers, who supply the supermarkets from distribution depots in Wakefield, Stockton-on-Tees and Northwich in Cheshire, are being balloted over action.

Unite said the dispute was over the company's use of agency workers hired on "insecure contracts and significantly diminished terms and conditions".

Culina Group, which owns Eddie Stobart, said it remained "committed to finding a sustainable solution" while Morrisons said it encouraged "both parties to engage constructively to find a solution and that "deliveries continue as normal".

Unite said "around 40% of drivers" in Stockton and Northwich were now agency workers.

It said that instead of hiring new drivers directly when people left, the company was "gradually replacing its unionised workforce with individuals on insecure contracts and significantly diminished terms and conditions".

General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Eddie Stobart's attempts to undermine drivers' pay and conditions, creating a race-to-the-bottom on employment standards, is appalling.

"This disgraceful union-busting will not be allowed – these workers have Unite's absolute backing."

The union claimed that as well as excluding temporary workers from the collective bargaining rights permanent staff are entitled to, the company had said if it did hire any new directly employed drivers in the future, they would also be on inferior terms and conditions.

Unite said the drivers, who are responsible for delivering groceries to Morrisons stores, were being balloted until 4 June.

Regional officer Neil Howells said: "Morrisons will be extremely angry that it is facing empty shelves because Eddie Stobart is union-busting.

"There is still time to avoid strikes, but that will require Eddie Stobart reaching a fair agreement with Unite."

A Culina Group spokesperson said it had been "involved in ongoing constructive consultations with Unite about the best way to deliver a long-term approach to driver recruitment and retention amid the present national driver shortage".

They added they would "continue to engage with all parties through the previously agreed processes".

A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We understand that Eddie Stobart Limited and Unite remain in discussions on this issue and encourage both parties to engage constructively to find a solution."

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