Supply Chain bosses send home protesting staff

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Supply Chain Depot workers were sent home from work for the day by management this morning after spontaneously protesting against company plans to close their site.

Two strikes have already taken place at the Leeds site – after a 95 per cent ‘Yes’ vote – by staff angry at the prospect of compulsory relocation to Sheffield.

Union officers and reps are staunchly opposing the threatened closure, which has been described by CWU national officer Andy Furey as “a disgraceful attack on this highly professional and dedicated workforce, which makes no sense from either a logistical or business perspective.

“For example, if our crew members from Leeds are relocated to Sheffield, they would have to drive from Leeds to Sheffield each morning, pick up their vans and work and then drive back to the Leeds area to deliver, return to Sheffield to take back their vans and then drive home to the Leeds area. The beginning and end of their journeys would need be done in the members’ own time.

“How can that possibly be an improvement?” he has asked.

Around 20 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.

Giving an update on the situation this afternoon, Andy explained: “At this time, the company intends to shut Leeds in mid-April. We still have a live strike ballot and we are liaising with local reps and members as to the next steps forward.

Further strikes are looking likely and management’s action in suspending staff for spontaneous protests is both provocative and unhelpful.”