Wednesday and Thursday’s strike action is still on, pending a ballot on the new offer, which deals with basic rates of pay and access to bonuses for all workers in the depot.
The revised offer will be put to 280 GMB members at a meeting at 11am on Monday. It will then be put to members in a ballot vote after the meeting.
The Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate is currently interviewing three local agencies that are supplying staff to do the strikers’ jobs. Under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003, it is illegal for agencies to supply labour to companies during a trade dispute.
Says GMB Regional Officer Graham Coxon, who led the negotiations with JJB’s chief executive Tom Knight: “During this dispute GMB has carefully monitored the illegal strike-breaking activities of the three local employment agencies. We want these activities stopped in this and future disputes.
“We want the agencies punished for breaking the law. We will not rest until EAS takes action. When this dispute is over GMB will raise questions about how EAS does its job. GMB members are far from satisfied that we are in the third week of the dispute before EAS took action.”
