Proposed industrial action at Kuehne & Nagel threatens drinks deliveries

By Richard Siddle

Published: 13 August, 2013

Deliveries of wine and spirits to restaurants, bars and independent merchants could be threatened if potential industrial action by workers of drinks transport and logistics giant, Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics (KNDL) goes ahead.

Up to a 1,000 workers at KNDL are being balloted this week for industrial action over what their union, Unite, claims are continual breaches in working agreements. Unite has confirmed it started balloting its 970 driver, drayman and warehouse members at 27 sites in England, Scotland and Wales on Tuesday, August 13, for potential strike or industrial action. The ballot closes on August 28.

Unite is disputing how the company is adopting the National Ways Agreement which governs the terms and conditions of the workforce. It claimed it is "imposing changes to working conditions without meaningful consultation". It said it is only balloting members as "a last resort".

In a statement KNDL said: "The company is fully committed to ongoing dialogue with Unite and plans to meet with union representatives 29 August 29 to discuss the situation further."

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