Argos Scrooges nab back workers' wine Christmas presents

Chiefs at the Bridgwater, Somerset, warehouse have scrapped the two bottles of wine usually given to staff at this time of year in retaliation for workers taking action in a work-life balance dispute.

The 200 Unite members at the depot voted to stage three one-day strikes after bosses forced new shift patterns on them.

They are walking out this Sunday, Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

Unite regional officer Dorothy Fogg said the shifts were "radically changed with little or no consultation."

This had forced many workers to cut their hours "so that they can care for their children or family members, because Argos would no longer accommodate their flexible working requests.

"Once the warehouse's senior management at Bridgwater heard about the strikes, they scrapped the traditional bottles of wine for each employee.

"This had been increased to two bottles last year in return for staff reducing their Christmas lunch from 45 minutes to the normal 30 minutes.

"I think many people in Somerset will agree that you would have to search far and wide to find a meaner, more tight-fisted management, intent on clawing back the bottles of wine from a hard-working and dedicated workforce.

"The spirit of Scrooge is alive and well in the West Country."

She urged bosses to get back round the table to sort out a fair shift pattern.

Argos said: "In order to meet the changing needs of our business and customers we have, following an extensive period of collective and individual consultation, exercised the flexibility clause in our contracts of employment.

"We refute the claim that Argos bosses are being 'mean-spirited.'

"On the contrary, and in the spirit of Christmas, all colleagues are invited to join together for a Christmas lunch this year, which we feel is more inclusive for all."