Workers at Tesco’s Didcot depot in Oxfordshire are striking following contractual changes without pay increases.
- Atalian Servest, managing facilities, has refused to engage in wage discussions, triggering the industrial action.
- Cleaners earn £11 an hour, even on weekends and bank holidays, while catering staff receive the minimum wage of £10.42.
- Unite the Union supports the workforce, criticizing Atalian Servest for prioritizing profit over fair pay.
- Strike actions are set for multiple dates, potentially disrupting operations at the depot.
In an ongoing conflict at Tesco’s depot in Didcot, Oxfordshire, workers are set to strike due to new contracts issued without the provision of a pay rise. This development arises as facility management company Atalian Servest, responsible for managing cleaning and catering services, has declined to negotiate wage increases with the employees.
The affected workforce, consisting of cleaners and catering staff, has revealed that they continue to earn low wages without extra compensation for demanding working conditions such as weekends and bank holidays. Specifically, cleaners receive £11 per hour, while catering staff earn the legal minimum wage of £10.42 an hour, which has become a central point of contention leading to the strikes.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite the Union, has openly criticized Atalian Servest’s decision to avoid dialogue on adjusting pay rates. She contends that the company’s strong financial performance, evidenced by a gross profit of £84 million in the latest reports for 2021, indicates that it can afford a salary increase for staff. According to Graham, this stance illustrates the company’s approach to prioritizing profit margins over its employees’ well-being.
Strong support for the workers comes from Unite the Union, which is focused on ensuring fair employment terms for its members. Scott Kemp, a regional officer with Unite, has warned that the impending strikes, caused by Atalian Servest’s obstinate refusal to negotiate, will render the depot untidy and might result in the closure of the canteen services.
The strikes are scheduled to take place in waves, with initial 24-hour actions slated for September 1 and September 7, followed by more extended three-day strikes beginning on September 15 and September 21. These planned disruptions underscore the workers’ determination to protest against what they view as unfair treatment, and may significantly impact the depot’s operations.
The strikes underscore a pressing conflict between labor demands and corporate policies, highlighting the stakes involved for both workers and management at the Didcot depot.
