Thousands of staff at discount retailer Wilko have voted to strike over a decision by the company to make them work weekends.
Around 1,600 GMB members at two of Wilko’s distribution centres – in Magor, Wales and Worksop, Nottinghamshire – will walk out following the vote. Dates of the strike are yet to be confirmed.
The union stated that the industrial action was likely to cripple Wilko deliveries to stores across the UK.
Recent talks with the retailer’s management failed to resolve the long-running dispute, prompting the GMB to ask those affected to vote on whether to take strike action.
Nicola Savage, GMB Organiser, said: “More than 84% of votes were cast for strike action. It’s clear how angry workers are about this brutal new rota system.
“Wilko prides itself on being a family run company – but they’re imposing contracts that will force staff to work on the weekends, splitting up family time, without the agreement of their employees. It’s clear now that those values don’t extend outside the Wilkinson family.
“We’ve tried to negotiate with management again and again – but they don’t want to know. Our members feel backed into a corner, and strike action is the only option left open to them.”
The Wilko chain returned to profit in its last financial year, aided by a cost-cutting drive. However, sales slipped amidst the “challenging” trading environment.
