Argos drivers vote for three-day Christmas strike

Unite members voted by 83% to strike over what they claim is a failure to pay holiday back-pay for two years, amounting to an average of £700 per driver.

The drivers, who work for Wincanton at Sainsbury’s-owned Argos’s flagship national distribution centre at Barton-under-Needwood, in Staffordshire, will strike for three days from December 20.

The centre supplies Argos’s seven other distribution centres across the UK. Unite claims the strike will cause “havoc and mayhem” to Argos deliveries.

Unite regional officer Rick Coyle said: “We can assure Argos customers that strike dates are only being announced as a last resort and that Unite’s door is open 24/7 to try and settle this long-standing dispute.”

A spokesman for Argos, which was acquired by Sainsbury’s earlier this year, said: “We would encourage both sides to keep talking with the aim of coming to a swift resolution.

“We also have contingency plans in place and can reassure customers we’re working hard to ensure this will not impact our deliveries this Christmas.”