Convenience stores across London and the south east could face shortages over Christmas, with Thamesmead-based delivery drivers set to strike over pay.

The 45-strong workforce, which delivers to around 1,500 stores including Budgens, Londis, Premier and One Stop, is embroiled in a pay dispute with Tesco-owner employer Booker Retail Partners.

Unite the union has accused bosses of “bad faith”, for reneging on an agreement that the drivers’ pay would be reviewed in February 2022, after they voted to accept a 3.3 per cent pay increase in October.

Tesco previously implemented a £5-an-hour pay rise for drivers at its Booker depot in Hemel Hempstead, but refused to pay a similar increase to HGV drivers at the Thamesmead site, Unite said.

The strike will begin at midnight on Thursday December 23, continuing throughout Christmas Eve.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an act of bad faith by the Booker bosses. They promised a further review of pay rates to take place in February.

“They have now broken that agreement and thus have provoked the Christmas strike action.

“Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of all its HGV driver members across the UK.

“That now includes holding the Booker bosses in Thamesmead to account for breaking a union agreement on pay.”

Members of Unite employed at the Thamesmead site previously suspended a strike due to take place in October over the same issue.

Unite regional officer Paul Travers said: “When we agreed to suspend strike action in October, it was on the understanding that a review of drivers’ pay and employment conditions would take place in February and that Unite would be fully involved.

"However, the company has now scrapped the review and will uplift the drivers’ money by £2 per hour which is completely unacceptable.

“This is a unilateral decision and, as a result, our members are angry that the money being proposed falls well short of what they deserve, now that the current RPI rate of inflation rate is six per cent.”

A Booker spokesperson said: "We continue to engage with Unite in relation to our Thamesmead site and remain happy to meet with them in February. We have contingency plans in place to ensure customers can get the products they need, while minimising any disruption for them."

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