Union complains about hiring of agency workers in five-week strike at Somerset warehouse
The shoe retailer Clarks is in a dispute with a trade union over the alleged use of agency workers to cover a strikers at its warehouse in Somerset.Using agency workers to break a strike is against the law.
Clarks confirms that it is using agency workers at the site, but it denies that they are doing the work of striking workers. Community, which represents the striking workers, complained to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy about one particular individual.He was employed as a general worker but was seen on a number of occasions driving a forklift which was usually driven by a worker who was on strike.
However the union remains unhappy with the use of agency workers at the warehouse. A spokesperson said: “we are continuing to investigate further wrongdoing and will appeal this with the relevant agencies wherever it may be found."The strike at the warehouse in Street, Somerset began on 4 October. The union says 120 to 230 workers have taken part, though Clarks says the true number is lower.
Clarks says it has to cut costs across the company to remain viable – it lost £172m last year as the pandemic reduced worldwide sales by 44%. It has also offered to top up salaries of those who would lose money until 2023.
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