SAINSBURY'S stores throughout Scotland could be hit with shortages as a result of a warehouse workers' strike.

Unite the union has announced a week-long strike action today, after a poor pay offer was rejected by DHL workers.

96% of DHL workers on a 68% turnout emphatically voted to take strike action following the rejection of DHL’s final offer which, according to the union, represents a real terms pay cut with inflation soaring to hit a forty year high of 11.8%.

Unite said its members were fighting for a fair pay deal that would "value their contribution to DHL and equal treatment by the company".

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It added currently DHL would be offering lower wages to workers based in Scotland, when compared to other parts of the UK.

Unite represents over 300 DHL warehouse workers who are based at the distribution centre in Langlands Park, East Kilbride.

The distribution centre supplies Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland.

DHL's German owned parent company - Deutsche Post DHL Group - announced in May 2022 that its revenue improved by 19.8% to €22.6bn (£18.8bn). 

The company boasted of having recorded an "excellent opening quarter" to 2022 with its operating profit increasing to €2.2bn (£1.8bn).

Glasgow Times:

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our DHL Sainsbury's members deserve a fair pay rise and to be treated equally with their fellow workers based throughout the UK.

"Unite will challenge DHL and its mega-wealthy owners. We don’t do our members being treated as ‘second class’.

"They have their union's full support in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions at DHL Sainsbury's."

Unite’s members are now set to begin the week-long strike action from August 13 and continuing each day up to August 20.

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Unite regional officer Willie Thomson said: “The cost of living crisis is impacting every DHL Sainsbury's worker equally but this billion pounds company continue to value their workers at East Kilbride less than others based throughout the UK.

"We will not tolerate this second class treatment of our members.

"Strike action is always a last resort but our members have no option but to take a stand.

"The company will soon know the value of its workforce when there will be empty shelves in Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland.

"All our members are asking for is the same wage rise."

 

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We have contingencies in place to minimise any disruption this may cause and continue to encourage both sides to keep talking.”