Two “rock-solid” strikes by Leeds Supply Chain workers have pushed back management plans to close their site, according to CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey.
“The closure was initially earmarked for the end of January, but following the determined action by our members over the festive period, the business has now pushed that date back to April 5th to allow for more talks,” he explained.
“We’ll continue to robustly oppose this closure, and we’ll be making that case in the strongest possible terms when we meet with the senior management team next Tuesday.”
The 24-hour strikes – on Christmas Eve and January 4th – followed an overwhelming 95 per cent ballot vote by hard-working staff infuriated by the closure announcement which, Andy says: “Is not only a disgraceful attack on this highly professional and dedicated workforce, but makes no sense from either a logistical or business perspective.
“For example, our crew members from Leeds would be relocated to Sheffield, which would mean them driving from Leeds to Sheffield each morning, picking up their loads and then driving back to the Leeds area to deliver, and then returning to Sheffield and then home to the Leeds area – how can that possibly be an improvement?”
Around 30 drivers are set for this compulsory relocation, while most of the site’s 20 indoor staff – who work on a variety of cash processing and clerical duties – are faced with the very real prospect of compulsory redundancy, as most of their work is to be moved to the company’s Birmingham unit.
And, in another blow to Leeds, the 45-strong workforce at a Post Office administrative unit above The Markets, one of the city centre’s Crown Offices, are also threatened with compulsory transfer to Sheffield or compulsory redundancy.
The Markets Admin Unit is housed in a building which is apparently unfit to work in. The union’s solution to this is to move the jobs into the Leeds Supply Chain building which will help to protect this Unit.
“Added together, this is almost 100 job losses in Leeds, arguably our nation’s fifth-largest city,” said Andy, adding: “Surely this company needs to maintain its presence within such a large and important population centre.”
The union’s negotiating team will be heading into next week’s crunch talks determined to achieve a fair resolution to this issue, but if the meeting is unsuccessful, further strike action could be on the way.
“As well as the Leeds dispute, there are also similar issues related to the company’s plans at units in Dearne, South Yorkshire, and St Helens in Lancashire,” continued Andy, “and we’ll be looking for urgent solutions here as well.”