Logistics staff contracted by Greene King to strike in Xmas run-up
The staff members, who work for logistics firm GXO and are members of the Unite trade union, were offered a 4% pay rise while inflation has been running at more than 9% for much of the year.
The HGV drivers and warehouse workers at GXO, based in Runcorn and contracted to the Greene King brewery, will be striking on three separate occasions in November and December.
Strikes are to take place at the Runcorn warehouse on 23 November for 24 hours, followed by longer strikes on 30 November until 1 December and between 6 and 8 December.
Waiting on fair pay offer
Unite said more dates for industrial action will be announced if members don’t receive a fair pay offer.
Workers at GXO deliver beer to Greene King pubs across the north-west of England and up to the Lake District and Carlisle.
Unite added: “Industrial action could see taps run dry in pubs leaving drinkers turning elsewhere for their pints in the run-up to Christmas.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Both GXO and Greene King are incredibly wealthy companies, which can fully afford to make our members a fair pay offer.”
Complete support
Graham continued: “Unite always prioritises the pay and conditions of its members and the GXO workers on the Greene King contract will receive the union’s complete support.”
In May, Greene King reported an adjusted operating profit of £192.6m while US-based GXO announced fourth quarter revenue for its 2022 financial year stood at $2.5bn.
Unite regional officer John McColl added: “Greene King needs to make clear to its contractors to start paying a decent wage to our members or pubs will be running dry of their beer this Christmas.
“Greene King promises to ‘pour happiness’, they need to make our members happy or face more industrial action.”
A Greene King spokesperson said: “We are aware of an industrial dispute between our logistics partner GXO and some of its employees at the company’s depot in Runcorn.
“This depot supplies less than 10% of our pubs nationwide and we already have contingency plans in place to ensure the pubs it does supply will continue to receive their deliveries as normal from other depots.”
A GXO spokesperson added: “We believe our proposal is very fair and we remain committed to maintaining an open dialogue with our employees and their representatives at all times.
“In the meantime, we are working closely with Greene King to ensure deliveries are maintained.”
