Talks in bid to avert 48-hour strike

Trade union Unite accused XPO Logistics of ignoring a national agreement and imposing changes to long-standing pay and working-time arrangements.

Around 70 people are said to be employed at the site. They formerly worked for French firm Norbert Dentressangle which was taken over by the American-owned giant last year.

Unite said the strike would hit XPO’s UK-wide distributions contracts, including deliveries of component materials to car makers Ford and Vauxhall. The union said it has made two attempts to resolve the dispute at ACAS, but XPO management refused to change its position.

Unite regional officer Stephen Deans said: “The significant mandate for strike action and action short of strike should have set alarm bells ringing in senior management circles about the depth of anger among the workers.

“XPO is growing significantly through a series of acquisitions, but we are determined they will not impose cuts on workers while running roughshod over long-standing collective agreements that promote good employment relations.”

Talks are planned for today (Wednesday) with the strike due to start tomorrow.

XPO could not be contacted for comment.