Booker stores across south east England are to face major disruption during Christmas Eve after drivers at the wholesaler’s Thamesmead depot have decided to strike.

The two-day strike will take place from 23 December, affecting 1,500 Budgens, Londis, Premier, One Stop and forecourt stores. Unite, the union representing the drivers, accused Booker bosses of “bad faith,” accusing them on going back on promises to review driver pay in February.

The wholesaler had agreed on a 3.3% pay increase in October after 40 drivers at the depot threatened strike action over pay.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an act of bad faith by the Booker bosses. They promised a further review of pay rates to take place in February. They have now broken that agreement and thus have provoked the Christmas strike action.

Booker agrees pay terms with Thamesmead drivers

“Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of all its HGV driver members across the UK. That now includes holding the Booker bosses in Thamesmead to account for breaking a union agreement on pay.”

Unite regional officer Paul Travers said: “When we agreed to suspend strike action in October, it was on the understanding that a review of drivers’ pay and employment conditions would take place in February and that Unite would be fully involved. However, the company has now scrapped the review and will uplift the drivers’ money by £2 per hour which is completely unacceptable.

“This is a unilateral decision and, as a result, our members are angry that the money being proposed falls well short of what they deserve, now that the current RPI rate of inflation rate 6%.”

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