Argos pay ballot

Following “intensive negotiations” distribution workers for retail chain Argos have been made a revised pay offer by management. Staff were due to be balloted as Labour Research went to press and a second day of strike action has been suspended pending the result.

They have already rejected a 4% pay offer, but were also furious at plans to erode the sick pay scheme and implement monthly pay instead of weekly pay without compensation. Unite national secretary Jennie Formby said: “The cost of living continues to rise which means that this below inflation wage offer is in effect a pay cut.”

The Home Retail Group (of which Argos is a part) made record profits of £433 million, up on last year by 16%.