Sunday 20 July 2014
Harsh New Contracts Provoke Argos Staff Strike
Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
BULLYING Argos bosses have botched the long-awaited launch of their latest catalogue by forcing warehouse workers into a walkout today against “sign or be sacked” contracts.
Managers bulldozed through new contracts for distribution staff that include draconian new conditions by showing dissenters the door.
But more than 1,000 determined Unite members began a strike this morning in a bid to get bosses around the table.
And the week-long action at five Argos distribution centres is set to scupper the launch of the company’s autumn catalogue, scheduled for next Saturday.
Walkouts at Basildon, Bridgwater, Castleford, Magna Park and Heywood will disrupt distribution of new products to Argos stores.
“They can fill the stores up for a couple of days but they can’t do a week,” said a workplace union rep who asked to remain anonymous.
“So it is going to have a massive impact.”
Warehouses were abandoned by workers as the strike kicked off at 6am this morning.
The highly disruptive six-day campaign of pickets at warehouses and high street stores will begin on Sunday morning.
The rep explained how the attitude of management — advised by professional union-breaker John Gregory — helped spark the strike over new shift patterns.
They told the Star: “All we’ve said is that they should minimise the impact on our members and they just don’t want to do that.
“It’s one size fits all, I want what I want — that’s the director’s attitude and that’s why we’re in the mess we are today.”
Making workers clock in and out at break times is part of the new performance management measures that the union fears will see older and disabled workers sacked.
Unite national officer Matt Draper said the new contacts — sold to workers with a £2,000 sweetener — will wreck work-life balance.
For more details click here for the Morning Star:
