Lockwood Haulage Strike Threatens Drinks Industry Supply Chain

Workers at Lockwood Haulage in West Yorkshire are set to go on strike after rejecting a one per cent pay offer, potentially disrupting deliveries for major drinks companies including Coca-Cola and Heineken. The all-out strike, which begins on September 2, centers around the pay dispute between the haulage firm and its employees.

The workers, who were previously employed by GXO and transferred to Lockwood in March 2025 under a TUPE agreement, have not received a pay increase since October 2023. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite the Union, called the one per cent offer 'a further kick in the teeth', stating that moving away from yearly increases to a bonus scheme is another way to shortchange employees.

Unite claims the strike will severely affect Lockwood's customer Ardagh Glass, which manufactures bottles for the drinks industry. The union has pledged its full support to the striking workers and vows not to allow this 'unacceptable attack on pay' to stand.