UK union, Unite, says no immediate action is planned at Jaguar Land Rover logistics operator, DHL Supply Chain, despite an initial vote for industrial action concerning pay levels.
Should the eventual vote be carried, JLR could see major disruption at its Castle Bromwich, Solihull and Hams Hall plants, with DHL maintaining it has unspecified, but detailed contingency plans should industrial action take place.
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DHL claims Unite has asked for increases of 12.8% and 20.6% for what it refers to as “operatives” and drivers and although Unite is not confirming those figures it does insist further staff votes are continuing.
“There is nothing which is going to happen imminently, because this is only two ballots and there are another four to come,” a Unite spokesman told just-auto. “That balloting process will not be completed until another three-and-a-half weeks at least.
“Our focus is reaching a negotiated settlement and it is very early days. These are all issues for negotiation over the coming days and weeks. The issue is pay. Our main focus is to agree through negotiation.”
Despite the union’s apparently conciliatory tone, DHL Supply Chain has branded Unite as “reckless” and insists its offer equates to a 4.5% pay increase for this year with a guaranteed 3% or retail prices index rate for 2014.
The logistics provider also said it had offered a 1.7% cash lump sum, bringing the offer for 2013 to 6.2%.
“This landmark offer is in excess of most other settlements within the UK and would confirm our position on rates of pay and terms and conditions as market-leading for the logistics industry and is in addition to an average of 10% increase that was agreed last year,” said a DHL statement.
JLR said it was “disappointed” at the possibility of industrial action but remained hopeful talks could resume to resolve the dispute, a position echoed by Unite.
“We hope to resolve this through negotiation,” said the union spokesman.
