1,500 London indies reprieved after delivery strike averted

The two-day strike, including Christmas Eve, by drivers employed by the Tesco-owned Booker Retail Partners at its Thamesmead site, which could have hit deliveries to 1,500 convenience stores in London and the south east, has been suspended.

Unite the union said on Monday (20) that the strikes by the 45-strong workforce, due on Thursday (23) and Christmas Eve, were suspended until Jan 31 so that a review into pay, previously reneged on by the management, could now go-ahead.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The Booker management has seen sense and an in-depth review of pay will now happen in January that will take into account the recent pay rises across the sector.

“Of course, we wait to see what happens now. Unite remains dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of all its HGV driver members, including those at Booker.”

Unite regional officer Paul Travers said: “The review, which was part of the pay deal agreed in October, means we have suspended the strike action this week until 31 January to enable it to take place in a constructive spirit.”