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Argos workers vote for stoppage Argos workers vote for stoppage
(about 2 hours later)
Workers at four distribution centres run by catalogue chain Argos have voted in favour of strike action. Workers at four distribution centres run by Argos have voted for strike action after rejecting a 4% pay offer.
The staff, who earn up to £22,000 a year, have rejected a 4% pay offer from Argos' owner Home Retail Group.
Dates for a series of 24-hour strikes and then a four-day stoppage will be announced later this week.Dates for a series of 24-hour strikes and then a four-day stoppage will be announced later this week.
The Unite union warned that this could lead to shortages of goods at Argos stores, at a time when its new catalogue is about to be launched.The Unite union warned that this could lead to shortages of goods at Argos stores, at a time when its new catalogue is about to be launched.
Home Retail Group, which owns Argos, said it had contingency plans in place to limit the impact of any stoppages.
'Unacceptable' offer
The staff who have voted in favour of strike action currently earn up to £22,000 a year.
The union says it is angry that the company has offered a "below inflation pay deal" when Home Retail Group's profits rose by 16% last year and its chief executive received a 58% pay rise.The union says it is angry that the company has offered a "below inflation pay deal" when Home Retail Group's profits rose by 16% last year and its chief executive received a 58% pay rise.
"A below inflation wage offer is a pay cut and this is totally unacceptable to our members," said Unite national secretary Jennie Formby."A below inflation wage offer is a pay cut and this is totally unacceptable to our members," said Unite national secretary Jennie Formby.
"They are already struggling to keep up with rising food and energy costs," she said."They are already struggling to keep up with rising food and energy costs," she said.
The government's preferred inflation measure, the Consumer Prices Index, rose to 3.3% in May. But the wider Retail Prices Index measure - the one used for many pay negotiations - climbed to 4.3%.The government's preferred inflation measure, the Consumer Prices Index, rose to 3.3% in May. But the wider Retail Prices Index measure - the one used for many pay negotiations - climbed to 4.3%.
The strike action is expected to affect distribution centres based in Basildon, Bridgwater, Heywood and Magna Park in Leicestershire. The strike action is expected to affect four of Argos' 15 distribution centres based in Basildon, Bridgwater, Heywood and Magna Park in Leicestershire.