Tesco lorry drivers take strike action

Retail giant Tesco was facing calls for a ballot for national strike action among drivers at its distribution depots as Labour Research went to press.

Shop stewards in the T&G section of new union Unite, formed following a merger with Amicus in May, issued the call in support of drivers at Tesco's distribution depot at Livingston near Edinburgh.

The drivers had been told they faced losing their jobs unless they agreed to worse terms and conditions when the depot transfers to a new site nearby.

The Livingston workers began three days of strike action on 24 May, affecting food supplies to nearly 100 Tesco stores across Scotland.

Following a recent meeting, shop stewards representing more than 5,000 workers at Tesco's main UK distribution depots agreed to a national campaign to stop changes to their pay, terms and conditions.

Ron Webb, Unite national secretary for transport (T&G section), said the Livingston dispute was about "losses of between £3,000 and £6,000 a year" along with losing the protection of the union. He added: "Our shop stewards see the attack on the Scottish drivers as the first shot in a national attack by the company."