Sainsbury's empty shelves threat

Sainsbury’s stores in London and the South East could face empty shelves after DHL lorry drivers at the supermarket’s Dartford distribution centre signalled their willingness to strike over pay, Unite said today (August 25).

Unite held a consultative strike action ballot of HGV drivers employed by DHL at the Dartford distribution centre over a one per cent pay offer put forward by the logistics company.

The ballot of around 200 Unite HGV driver members resulted in a 98 per cent vote in favour of taking industrial action, including strikes.

DHL is contracted to run Sainsbury’s Dartford regional distribution centre, including driving and warehouse operations.

Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone said,“National HGV driver shortages are all over the news, so how DHL thought it was going to get away with an insulting offer of a one per cent pay rise is beyond me.

“Our members have signalled that they are willing to take strike action and we will now be moving to opening a formal industrial action ballot,” Silkstone added.

“Unless Sainsbury’s and DHL, both of which run extremely healthy profit margins, get their acts together there will be empty shelves in Sainsbury’s stores across London and the South East of England,” he continued.

“That possibility can be avoided by coming up with an offer that reflects the hard work and dedication shown by these drivers.”

By Ryan Fletcher