Tesco drivers call off strike as deal struck

Almost 200 Tesco drivers have staged a series of stoppages in protest over their treatment by national haulage firm Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL).

ESL took control of Tesco’s huge Doncaster distribution centre in the summer, and after a month issued the drivers with redundancy notices.

Their union, Unite, said the terms were not acceptable and claimed that alternative jobs offered were on worse pay and conditions.

Yesterday the union said the agreement, under which drivers have been offered “enhanced” redundancy packages, was a “victory”.

Unite official Adrian Jones said the drivers had sent out a clear message to other transport and retail companies that may be thinking of treating their employees less than fairly.

The strike was aimed at disrupting supplies to Tesco’s Yorkshire stores in the run-up to Christmas and into the New Year.

A Tesco spokesman added: “The breakthrough comes after a lengthy consultation process with the drivers, Unite and more recently Acas. The resolution of the industrial dispute ensures that Eddie Stobart can continue to deliver good service to the Tesco stores over Christmas.”