Walkout at Swindon’s Iceland distribution centre over pay

Around 150 workers have walked out of a warehouse in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union at the Iceland distribution centre, Swindon, claim their pay has not kept up with the cost of living.

They said negotiations with their employer, the logistics company GXO, have broken down.

Martin Atkinson, managing director of grocery at GXO, said they had made a “fair” offer of higher pay to freezer workers.

Paul Swindells, union representative for the distribution centre in Swindon, said: “The feeling is very strong that we need to fight for our membership and get them a wage they can actually live on.”

He said staff walked out before Christmas and today, and that although they had thought negotiations were going somewhere, “we’ve faltered at the last minute”.

“There are people who are only on day shifts, who don’t get unsocial hours pay… [and] people who don’t achieve bonuses or don’t get extra pay for the [cold] environment they’re in,” said Mr Swindells.

“They work incredibly hard in difficult conditions. Life is becoming harder and harder and they’re effectively getting paid less and less.”

He said the union had tried to encourage the company to understand but has been told there is no more money. So they are at “some form of impasse”.

Mr Atkinson said he had listened to his colleagues and sent a revised offer to Unite.

He said this includes “extra cash to all colleagues and a higher incentive payment to those who work in the freezer area”.

Mr Atkinson said GXO thinks the offer is “fair and reflects their concerns… [and] we are disappointed Unite has not allowed its members a say on this enhanced offer”.

He said GXO will continue to work with Iceland “to ensure there is no disruption to supply chain over the festive period”.

The BBC has asked Iceland for comment but is yet to hear from the company.