Argos delivery drivers to strike for three days during run-up to Christmas

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Argos delivery drivers are set to go on strike during the run-up to Christmas.

In a dispute over pay, the three-day walk-out looks set to threaten the delivery of goods in the days leading up to the festive holidays.

Members of Unite employed by Wincanton at a distribution centre in Staffordshire plan to walk out from next Tuesday.

The potential strike would end on December 22.

United is currently embroiled in a row over holiday back pay.

Regional officer Rick Coyle said: "The drivers have patiently tried to resolve this matter for over two years.

"Now they would like the money they are owed in time for Christmas, which is not unreasonable.

"It is very difficult to understand why Wincanton has allowed this saga to get out of hand because this strike by our members will cause havoc and mayhem to deliveries to Argos shops in the run-up to Christmas".

Mr Coyle added that the strike was only announced as a "last resort".

The news comes a day after the Post Office confirmed some of its workers would be staging a five-day strike next week - including Christmas Eve.

The Communication Workers Union is entangled in a long-running dispute over job losses, the closure of a final salary pension scheme and the franchising of Crown Post Offices.

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Argos drivers agree to suspend plans for industrial action

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Unite union says it has reached agreement with Wincanton, operator of Burton upon Trent warehouse, pending member ballot

Argos delivery drivers have suspended plans for strike action after talks with the operator of the retailer’s main distribution centre.

The 35 drivers, who all drive lorries operating out of a warehouse in Burton upon Trent run by logistics firm Wincanton, are demanding an average of £700 in holiday back pay dating back as long as two years.

Unite, the union which is representing the drivers, said it had reached an agreement with Wincanton on Wednesday morning and hammered out a deal which it could recommend to its members. They would then vote on whether to accept the deal.

Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: “While this ballot is being conducted, all proposed industrial action has been suspended and our members at the Argos national distribution centre in Staffordshire will be working normally.”

A spokesperson for Wincanton said: “We are equally pleased that our planned meeting today has produced an outcome which works for all parties. All industrial action has now been suspended pending a ballot on the terms of the agreement among Unite members, and at this important time of year, the Argos business will be unaffected.”

Meanwhile, the union representing Post Office workers has started three days of talks to avert strike action before Christmasat its 300 biggest branches.

Post Office workers voted to stage five days of strikes from 19 December in a long-running dispute over jobs and pensions. The Communication Workers Union, which acts for about 4,000 postal workers, has said it wants to avoid strike action if possible.

The Post Office said less than 3% of its outlets would be affected by the action. But the CWU said more than a fifth of parcels were handled by the 300 crown post offices where its members work.

Royal Mail, which delivers parcels and letters and is privately owned after splitting from the Post Office several years ago, has said its operations would not be affected by the strike.

[Lounge Lizard]