Arrow home deliveries facing strikes

Members of Unite, employed by Arrow XL, will begin strike action later this month in a dispute over pay.

Unite represents 350 workers who undertake two-person deliveries for major retailers including Amazon, Very Group, LG Electronics, Richer Sounds and Buy it Direct.

While the highest paid director in Arrow XL received £539,000 in 2021, an 84 per cent pay rise on the previous year, workers’ pay at the company starts at just £9.50 per hour, the legal minimum wage.

The workforce, which includes drivers, warehouse operatives and customer care centre workers, has been offered just five per cent on their pay, which, with the real rate of inflation (RPI) standing at 12.3 per cent, is a substantial real terms pay cut.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Arrow XL bosses are on huge salaries but are demanding low paid workers take a pay cut. This is just not acceptable.

“This is another dismal case of a profitable employer and owners, the extremely rich Barclay family, who can easily afford to pay properly but are refusing to do so.

“Arrow XL needs to put a much better offer on the table or face disruption ahead of Christmas because Unite will be providing our members with the union’s complete support throughout this dispute.”

Strikes will begin on Monday 24 October and then will take place on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until Christmas Eve.

Arrow XL is part of Logistics Group Holdings Ltd, which is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay Family Settlements. Arrow’s latest accounts reveal that Arrow XL’s turnover increased by 27 per cent in 2021 and it recorded a £1.9 million profit.

The drivers are spread across the UK, but the majority are attached to four hubs which are in Airdriem, Enfield, Wigan and Worcester.

Unite national officer for road haulage Adrian Jones added, “Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to Arrow’s customers, but this dispute is entirely of the company’s own making. It has had every opportunity to make an offer which met workers’ expectations, but it has failed to do so.”

By Barckley Sumner