Lockwood Strike Threatens West Yorkshire Supply Chain

Workers at Lockwood Haulage Ltd in Knottingley and South Kirkby are set to go on strike next month over a pay dispute. The Unite union has warned of potential 'Coca-Cola shortages' as its members will walk out from September 2.

The strike is expected to impact Lockwood's customer Ardagh Glass, which supplies major brands including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Stella, and Heineken. The union claims that the workers have not had a pay rise in nearly three years, with their last increase dating back to October 2023.

Lockwood has offered its employees a 'miserly' 1% pay increase, which Unite has rejected. Instead, the company plans to introduce an attendance-based bonus scheme worth £250 per quarter if certain attendance criteria are met.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called the move an 'absolute insult' and said that moving away from yearly increases to a bonus scheme is another way to shortchange employees.