A dispute over ‘equal pay for equal work’ at Marks & Spencer’s London and southeast England food haulier Gist has been settled.
The dispute at Gist’s Hemel Hempstead site centred on winning pay parity for the 23 ‘pickers and loaders’ who were being paid less than the majority of the workforce.
Unite, the UK’s largest union, announced on today 12 July that, following talks with the management, the workers affected had overwhelmingly accepted a deal that gave them parity in terms of pay, and terms and conditions with the majority of the workforce.
Unite regional officer Alan Brkljac said: “Unite members have voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal which gives them pay parity with their fellow workers.
“I would like to pay tribute to the solidarity that our members have shown during the course of this dispute which contributed greatly to the successful outcome.
“As a result, all planned industrial action has been called off and we look forward to working constructively with the GIST management going forward and putting this dispute well behind us in the interests of all parties.
“All 23 employees have negotiated through Unite and are now fully integrated into the terms and conditions of our national agreement.”
The origins of the dispute go back to 2008 when there was a local arrangement to supply food to BP garages, but since then the logistics has expanded and changed with those covered by the local agreement now working for the M&S national contract.
Gist was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
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