Drivers step up fight against lay-offs with strike ballot
Thursday 10 January 2013
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EmailContract drivers working for a nationally known kitchen-maker are taking their fight against redundancies to the ballot box, Unite said today.
Domestic manufacturer Howdens Joinery, based at Widnes in Merseyside, said it planned to transfer its distribution operation from Merseyside to Howden in east Yorkshire.
Transport firm DHL, which has the contract for Howdens delivery operations and has a transport hub at Widnes, informed drivers at its Widnes transport base last week that as a result they face the sack. Sixty-four drivers are involved.
Unite regional officer Neil Clarke said: "The Widnes transport operation is the most heavily used in Howdens's entire network but the company has failed to give the union any meaningful reason for the proposed shift.
"We believe this is a blatant attack on a strongly unionised workforce."
He said the union was determined to protect its members' jobs and, if necessary, would fight the decision still remained committed to trying to resolve the issue.
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