Booker drivers to vote on new pay deal in a week

The strike, which was due to start on Monday (4 October) at the wholesaler’s Thamesmead site, has been called off pending the vote.

Details about the proposed pay deal have not been made public, but the dispute has been brewing since July, when drivers at Thamesmead asked for the same temporary £5 an hour increase that Booker had given to drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot.

Paul Travers, regional officer of the Unite union, which is representing the drivers, said: “After three days of tough negotiations this week, we have agreed to take the proposals back to the drivers with a recommendation to accept.

“On that basis, we have suspended the threat of industrial action due to have started on Monday, while our members are being balloted.

“We expect the result to be announced on 11 October. Unite won’t be commenting further until then.”