Unions are considering calling off plans for a three-day strike at Morrisons after the supermarket chain agreed to meet them for national bargaining talks.
The T&G and GMB unions have agreed to meet the company tomorrow for talks aimed at avoiding a three-day walkout by thousands of its distribution workers from Friday and a six-day stoppage from 29 September.
The discussions, involving 25 shop stewards, could lead to the industrial action being called off if the company was prepared to negotiate “seriously”, the unions said.
Workers at five of Morrisons’ depots, which supply about 60% of the company’s stores, voted to strike over management’s alleged refusal to consult employees’ representatives over the fear of job losses.
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But Morrisons last night confirmed it has “conceded the issue which formed the basis of the ballot”. It has asked the unions to confirm that the planned industrial action is cancelled.