Arrow XL workers to protest

Workers employed by Arrow XL will demonstrate outside the company’s head office in Liverpool this week, as they ramp up their industrial action campaign in response to the company’s poverty pay rates.

The demonstration will take place on Tuesday, November 22 from 10.30 am at Logistics Group Holdings Ltd, Atlantic Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AE.

The 350 workers at the company, who undertake two person deliveries for major retailers including Amazon, Very Group, LG Electronics, Richer Sounds and Buy it Direct, have been taking strike action since Monday, October 24.

The workers, who are members of Unite, and include warehouse workers, drivers and customer care staff, receive very low wages. Many only receive the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour. This is in sharp contrast to the highest paid director at Arrow XL, who was paid £539,000 in 2021, an 84 per cent pay rise on the previous year.

Arrow XL workers from across the UK, including Enfield, Wigan and Worcester, will be taking part in the demonstration.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The workers at Arrow can’t and won’t accept poverty pay rates any longer. It appears that the company’s management is trying to pretend the dispute is not happening, which is why Unite is bringing its workers to its door.

“Arrow’s ultimate owners are billionaires and they should be shocked that one of their companies is paying its workers so poorly,” she added.

“Unite is the union which always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first and our members at Arrow will receive the union’s unflinching support.”

The company, which is profitable, has only been prepared to offer the workers a five per cent pay increase. This is in effect a huge pay cut when the current real inflation rate (RPI) stands at 14.2 per cent.

The workers are currently striking every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The industrial action is due to continue until Christmas, causing huge disruption to the delivery schedules of the company’s clients.

Unite national officer Adrian Jones noted, “The strike action is playing havoc with the delivery schedules of Arrow’s clients and this is only going to get worse as Christmas approaches and demand increases. This dispute is entirely of Arrow’s own making. It has had many opportunities to resolve the dispute but has declined to do so.”

Arrow XL is part of Logistics Group Holdings Ltd, which is owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay Family Settlements.

By Barckley Sumner