distribution

A second strike in the dispute at the Tesco distribution depot at Livingston near Edinburgh over changes to job contracts and union representation has been suspended after management offered to open talks with the T&G section of Unite - the union.

The Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) say 150 drivers are to join the 24-hour strike next Tuesday. Tesco have strongly denied claims that drivers based in Livingston had been threatened with job losses if they did not sign a new contract. A Tesco spokesman has accused the union of "following their own agenda".

Tony Trench, T&G section of Unite regional industrial organiser, said in spite of the 'Fort Wapping' style security clampdown it was clear all was not well.

The 150 Tesco drivers - who supply nearly 100 stores in Scotland - are on strike against the company's seeking to derecognise the drivers' union (UNITE), a move the union says would have cost many drivers £3,000 or more per year. The drivers voted 126 to 6 for strike action from Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th May.

The whole crew, around 80 people, both immigrant and natives - in solidarity stopped their work after successive acts of discrimination by the management.

The factors that provoked the widespread stoppage of work by thousands of British workers in the winter of 1978-79 began with the Labour government of James Callaghan's attempt to enforce limits on pay rises to curb inflation. Inflation had reached a height of nearly 26.9% in August 1975.

The workers are formally emplyed by DHL, but any pay increases have to be first authorised by Iceland according to the T&G union. The depot, which employs 250 warehouse operatives and 115 drivers supplies food to 180 Iceland stores in London, the South East and East Anglia. The T&G expects the strike to affect stocks in Iceland stores during the run up to Christmas.

The strike, which began after workers walked out in solidarity over the sacking of a cleaner for P&O, began late yesterday afternoon. They have blockaded most of the port.

A spokesperson for P&O Ferries has said that the Calais port has partially reopened after 12 port workers agreed to operate berths, and that two ships have set sail for the UK.

A short report from a DHL workers demonstration in Brussels, with information about developments and struggles at DHL and at Brussels airport.

Over 85% of PCS members employed at HMRC voted in favour of a ban on overtime and a work to rule in response to the introduction of new working practices called 'LEAN'.

The strike is organised by the CNT anarcho-syndicalist trade union.

Mercadona, whose slogan translates as "supermarkets of trust", is Spain's biggest national supermarket chain by sales, with 990 outlets across the country and 54,000 workers. The company likes to pride itself on its claim that 100% of its staff have permanent contracts.

GMB shop stewards at a meeting today in Manchester voted unanimously to commence the balloting process for a national strike in Asda Wal-Mart to secure collective bargaining at the 20 distribution depots and to secure payment of the 2005 bonus and safe work rates.

The dispute began with the sacking of three members of the anarcho-syndicalist union the CNT working at the centre, the culmination of a campaign of threats by the company against workers unionising at the centre. Even before a strike was declared the company brought in scab workers, attempting to preempt the actions of their own employees.

JJ FOODS STRIKE

Around 11,000 workers, members of the Transport Workers' Union will be striking.

The strike is likely to affect around 50% of long-distance bus services, and many local services in cities. It may also affect port operations and goods distribution, and waste collection.

The GMB union is balloting thousands of members in the company's 19 distribution depots which supply the entire supermarket depot, after talks over a dispute at the Dartford depot broke down late last week.

The nominal vote was close, with sixteen votes for the union and fifteen against, but the "no" votes included six office workers whom management inappropriately tried to include in the bargaining unit. Among the warehouse workers, fork-lift operators, truck drivers, and helpers who make up the unit petitioned for by the union, the vote was sixteen to nine.

Little over a month earlier they had come to the workers’ night at Make The Road by Walking, and told of working long hours without being paid overtime, which ultimately amounted to being paid less than minimum wage. Sometimes the trucks would finally be loaded to the top at 3 p.m., and the workers would be told that all 25 stops in Manhattan had to be made.

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