DHL staff to strike at Cumbernauld site

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More than 350 DHL Supply Chain workers, including warehouse staff and drivers at its Cumbernauld site will strike after a long-running dispute over pay and the future of the site.

Over 90 percent of staff voted in favour of strike action depsite an offer by bosses of a 2 percent increase a year for two years.

A key contractor for DHL, high street retailer Marks & Spencer has also made changes to its distribution network, with many workers believing this may affect the future of the Westfield site.

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DHL workers in Cumbernauld to take strike action

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Workers at Cumbernauld-based DHL Supply Chain are to take strike action in a dispute over pay and the site's future.

The Unite union said more than 350 workers had rejected a pay offer amounting to an annual 2% increase for two years.

It added workers were concerned about the future of the Westfield site after key contractor Marks and Spencer announced distribution network changes.

A schedule for strike action will be announced "in due course".

Unite said more than 90% of ballot papers returned were in favour of industrial action.

The dispute mainly involves warehouse and logistics staff.

According to the union, more than 100 workers have been made redundant at the site in the last two years - with 15 jobs being lost in the summer following the Marks and Spencer restructuring announcement.

Unite regional industrial officer Tony Devlin said: "We've got to the point where the situation is untenable.

"This workforce readily accepted a global pay freeze in 2008 and has had to contend with a significant spate of redundancies in the last two years - their commitment to DHL and M&S is unquestionable.

"We've accepted the cuts and made proposals for the diversification of the business operation after the M&S announcement but have been continuously kept in the dark by DHL and M&S.

"The recent pay offer was the straw that broke the camel's back."

[bobbyden]

Taking strike action in that sort of environment looks a very risky bet, in so much as achieving a positive outcome that is. Obviously, Marks & Spencer is the chief reason for this depot, and there will be plenty of vultures circling over it, seeking to pick up the pieces, including perhaps the Royal Mail.

Hopefully, DHL, Unite and Marks and Spencer will thrash out a deal which ensures the future of the site. I do not want to see any job losses. Bad news for the local economy and even more dire for those chiefly affected.