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Sainsbury’s drivers vote for strike over job outsourcing

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted February 26, 2024

Unite the Union has warned of potential strike action by hundreds of Sainsbury’s lorry drivers over the supermarket outsourcing their positions.

The union said approximately 500 drivers stationed in Essex and Birmingham are planning for a strike action.

It comes as Sainsbury's plans to transition their roles to logistics firm Wincanton by the end of April.

This move is part of a broader initiative by Sainsbury's, announced last April, to invest £220 million in significant changes to its logistics framework.

The overhaul aims to consolidate its various logistics contracts into three main categories.

These are: transport, food, and general merchandise, including clothing—by 2024.

The company intends to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

The company is shifting transport services for most of its operations.

This includes Sainsbury’s, Argos, and its central transport functions, to Wincanton.

This change will also see Wincanton taking responsibility for the logistics of Sainsbury’s convenience stores across London and southeast England.

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Unite national officer Matt Draper said: “There is still time to resolve this dispute before it escalates.

“But for that to happen, Sainsbury’s must get back around the negotiating table and put forward a deal our members can accept.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We are committed to further talks.

“In the meantime we can reassure our customers we have contingency plans in place to minimise any disruption, should the action go ahead.”

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