Tesco faces prospect of strike action as staff reject pay offer

In the wake of workers at eight sites rejecting the less-than-5% pay offer, trade union Usdaw has launched a consultative ballot for members to vote on whether or not they’d be prepared to take industrial action against the grocery giant.

Tesco had offered distribution staff a new pay offer between a 2% raise plus £500 and a 4.4% raise, depending on the contract.

Usdaw said the consultative ballot will run from September 9 to 24 at Tesco sites in Hinckley, Magor, Southampton, Daventry Clothing, Goole, Lichfield, Livingston and Peterborough.

The union’s national officer, Mark Todd, said: “Following the overwhelming rejection of Tesco’s final offer, the company has made it clear that they do not intend to reconvene negotiations or make an improved offer at this stage.

“That means it is now necessary to carry out a consultative ballot, to assess our members’ level of willingness to carry out industrial action.

“Usdaw members have spoken and made their opinion clear, that the company’s offer is not an acceptable pay increase. We are disappointed not to reach an agreed settlement and now have no choice but to move to a consultative ballot.

“Usdaw remains open to resolving the dispute constructively and we urge the company to get back around the negotiating table.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “We have made a fair pay offer to colleagues working at our distribution sites, which is equivalent to double the current rate of CPI inflation, and we continue to engage with Usdaw.

“In recent years, we have made substantial investments in pay and benefits for our distribution colleagues, with pay increasing by 23% over the past three years.”