A long-running dispute between transport giant Eddie Stobart and UK retailer Tesco over an improved redundancy package has come to an end.
Eddie Stobart has been engaged in a three-month long dispute with the union since it announced plans to make the 180 drivers based at the Doncaster distribution depot redundant in September. The transport giant had acquired the facility one month earlier from Tesco.
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Since entering the mandatory 90-day consultation period, the company had been unable to reach a settlement agreement with Unite, the union representing the drivers.
In a statement yesterday (13 December), Unite said the drivers voted in favour of an offer from Stobart, which will pay them more than their contractual redundancy pay.
Unite said the settlement is “a victory for worker solidarity”.
The union’s national officer, Adrian Jones said: “This is a victory for the drivers who have displayed unity, strength and resolution throughout this difficult time against a hardline employer.
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By GlobalData“It also sends out a clear message to other transport and retail companies that may be thinking of treating their employees less than fairly that Unite will neither flinch nor back away from a dispute until there has been an acceptable and equitable settlement that our members fully support.”
The settlement puts an end to a continuous strike that started on 6 December.
