"Booker’s Thamesmead drivers poised to strike over pay", 6 September 2021

Booker drivers at the company’s Thamesmead site in south-east London have voted to strike over pay.

The potential strike threatens to disrupt deliveries to more than 1,500 convenience stores in London and the South-east, says the drivers’ union, Unite.

The union is poised to issue notice to the employer for strike action, but wants to allow time for talks with the bosses on 21 to 23 September...

The Thamesmead drivers deliver to independent retailers under the Budgens and Londis brands.

The crux of the dispute is that the company put in place a temporary £5-an-hour pay uplift for about 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot because of the HGV driver shortage, but did not implement a similar uplift for the 40 drivers at the Thamesmead site...

A Booker spokesperson said: “We are naturally disappointed with last week’s ballot result from our Thamesmead drivers but look forward to sitting down with their Unite representatives on 21 September and working together to find a resolution.”