Argos workers in 24-hour strike

3:45pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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Distribution workers at four sites run by High Street giant Argos - including one in Heywood - will stage a 24-hour strike tomorrow in a row over pay.

Members of Unite will walk out at 6am in protest at a 4% pay offer and will take further industrial action on July 24, followed by a four-day stoppage from July 30 if the deadlock is not broken.

The union complained that workers had been offered a below-inflation pay rise even though Argos owners, the Home Retail Group, had made record profits of £433 million.

Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: “The cost of living continues to rise which means that this below-inflation wage offer is in effect a pay cut. This is totally unacceptable to our members.

”We are ready and willing to negotiate and have even offered to invite the conciliation service Acas to help with the negotiations but so far the company have not taken up this offer.

”Argos distribution workers helped to save over £10 million for the group in the last 14 months alone. They have co-operated fully by accepting changes to working practices including significant increases in flexible working. This is a hugely profitable company and all our members are asking for is a fair share of the wealth they’ve worked so hard to create.”

The strikes will also be held at Basildon, Essex; Bridgwater, Somerset and Magna Park, Warwickshire.

Argos said it was “disappointed” that the strike was going ahead, adding that the offer was a very good one in the current economic climate.

Thousands of other Argos staff, including managers, had accepted wage rises of below 4%, said the company, adding that contingency plans had been put in place to deal with the strike.