DELIVERIES TO Tesco supermarkets across Ireland could be disrupted by a planned strike by lorry drivers working for British-based haulage company Eddie Stobart.
Some 120 drivers have voted to strike to highlight a number of grievances over their working conditions, the trade union Siptu said. Strike notice is due to be served on the company in the coming days and will take effect after seven days.
“These heavy goods vehicle drivers have been trying to resolve a number of grievances around rest time, rosters and general working conditions for some time now but Eddie Stobart has consistently refused to deal with any of these issues,” Siptu spokeswoman Karan O’Loughlin said.
Tesco is the main customer to which the drivers deliver and supplies to the supermarkets would be put at risk, she said.
“It is not our intention to draw Tesco into this row but ultimately it has engaged Eddie Stobart to drive and deliver products to all its stores nationwide.”
Stobart Ireland said the union’s claims were misleading.
“Driver welfare is at the heart of our business. Two recent independent audits by the Road Safety Authority have found Stobart to be fully compliant with driver standards,” a statement for the company said.
It was regrettable, the statement said, that Siptu would attempt to justify strike action in a company which values positive relations with its employees.
“Stobart has created and protected over 700 jobs in Ireland in the past three years. We have further investment plans here, however these are threatened by this type of irresponsible behaviour by Siptu.”
A spokesman for Tesco said the company had no comment to make on the matter.
