M&S and Waitrose to be hit hardest in strike over breach of rota agreement 

HGV drivers and shunters at Mullers’ Stonehouse factory in Gloucestershire, members of Unite the union, will escalate their dispute over imposed rota changes with 11 days of all out strike action.

Around 70 workers will strike from 19 October to 29 October.

The employer is seeking to impose a change to a five days on two days off rota system to require all drivers to work at least one day every weekend.  

The move is a clear breach of an agreement the company signed with Unite earlier this year.

The workers are responsible for delivering milk and other dairy products to M&S and Waitrose nationwide.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It’s very simple; Muller signed an agreement with our members and they should stick to it.  

"Unite will not accept attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions. Mullers’ Gloucestershire workforce has the union’s full backing in this dispute.”

The strikes will disrupt the milk supply chain for products to the site’s main customers, M&S and Waitrose. Supplies to Sainsbury’s and Tesco, which receive deliveries from the Stonehouse plant, will also be disrupted.

Unite regional officer Amy Roberts said: “Muller needs to abide by the agreement it signed and drop these rota changes, which will negatively impact our members’ quality of life.”

ENDS

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.