Argos corporate news
Unite Trade Union announcement
10 July 2008
We can confirm that we have now been notified by the Unite Trade Union that members working in 4 of our 15 distribution centres intend to carry out a one-day strike on Thursday 17 July, followed by an additional one-day strike on 24 July and culminating in a staggered four-day stoppage between 30 July and 5 August. This follows the Union’s refusal to accept a 4% pay offer on behalf of its members.
We are extremely disappointed at this decision as we are confident that the pay offer of 4% is a very good one in the current – and likely future – difficult market environment. It compares extremely favourably with other retailers and with pay increases across the rest of the company. More than 20,000 colleagues across the rest of Argos, including management, have on average received pay increases below the 4% on offer to our distribution workers, recognising that the business needs to exercise restraint in the tough retail climate. Argos distribution workers are already recognised as being very well paid within their own industry.
With only 50% of total union members voting for strike action, we do not believe that Unite are fully representing all their members, and feedback from colleagues on site confirms this.
We would like to reassure our customers that if industrial action goes ahead, the effect on our customers’ shopping experience, both in our stores and online, will be minimal. Only four out of our 15 distribution centres are affected and as negotiations with Unite have been ongoing for a number of months, we have had plenty of time to put contingency plans in place.
Argos has had a good relationship with Unite in the past, and our stakeholder agreement with the Union has been held up as a model for others to follow. Throughout the pay negotiations, Argos has made a number of different proposals to the Union to try to find a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned. The Union, on behalf of its members, has rejected all of these proposals.
-ENDS-
