Workers at Argos warehouses across the country are to stage a two-week strike as disputes rage over job security terms.
A high court judge has rejected an application made by the retailer to stop 1400 Unite union members staging a walkout at 6am this morning.
The effected sites include Basildon, Bridgewater, Burton-on-Trent, Heywood and Lutterworth.
According to the union Argos workers who prepare deliveries are concerned that a culture of contracting them out could lead to job losses and a deterioration of their contract terms.
“We are deeply disappointed at the belligerent and aggressive stance Argos has taken,” National officer Matt Draper said.
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“Unite had hoped that we could have reached a negotiated settlement when we attended talks at the conciliation service Acas the other week.
“Instead, Argos has sought to use the law to ride roughshod over its workers’ concerns and refused to engage positively.
“Our members have legitimate concerns about being transferred to another company or being offered alternative employment on potentially inferior terms, if they are unwilling to travel to a new site.”
In response to the strikes, an Argos spokesperson said: “We strongly believe this dispute to be wholly unnecessary as the union has made a series of demands in the full knowledge that they cannot be met, for legal reasons.
“We are disappointed with the court‘s ruling against our injunction based on a technicality but will be submitting a further application.
“We can reassure customers that we have strong contingencies in place and their orders and deliveries will not be affected.”
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