A supermarket giant is facing shortages in its stores this summer after workers at a Lanarkshire distribution centre voted for strike action.
Unite the union today announced a week-long strike action this month that will hit supplies to Sainsbury's stores after a "poor" pay offer was rejected by DHL workers.
The union represents over 300 DHL warehouse workers who are based at the distribution centre in Langlands Park in East Kilbride, supplying Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland - including the Kingsgate superstore in EK and one in Hamilton.
In total 96 per cent of DHL workers on a 68 per cent turnout emphatically voted for action following the rejection of DHL’s final offer which they say represents a real terms pay cut with inflation soaring to hit a forty year high of 11.8 per cent.
Unite’s members are fighting for "a fair pay deal" that "values their contribution to DHL" and equal treatment by the company.
Currently DHL are offering lower wages to workers based in Scotland when compared to other parts of the UK say the union.
DHL's German owned parent company - Deutsche Post DHL Group - announced in May 2022 that its revenue improved by 19.8 percent to 22.6bn Euros.
The company reported an "excellent opening quarter’" to 2022 with its operating profit increasing to 2.2bn Euros.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The cost of living crisis is impacting every DHL Sainsbury’s worker equally but this billion pounds company continue to value their workers at East Kilbride less than others based throughout the UK.
"We will not tolerate this second class treatment of our members.
"Strike action is always a last resort but our members have no option but to take a stand.
"The company will soon know the value of its workforce when there will be empty shelves in Sainsbury’s stores throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland. All our members are asking for is the same wage rise.”
Negotiations have taken place under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) but Unite has now served notice of the strike action following the failure of DHL to make an improved offer in the talks.
Unite’s members are now set to begin the week-long strike action from August 13 and continuing each day up to August 20.
A spokesman for DHL Supply Chain said they had hoped talks would "reach a satisfactory outcome for both parties" but contingency plans are being drawn up and "every effort will be made to minimise disruption to services".
A Sainsbury's spokesperson added: "We have contingencies in place to minimise any disruption this may cause and continue to encourage both sides to keep talking."
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