Workers at Clarks Distribution Centre in Street go on indefinite strike over changes to pay and contracts

Workers at the Clarks Distribution Centre in Street have walked out on indefinite strike over proposed changes to their pay and contracts.

The shoe firm is looking to change the employment terms and conditions for its employees as part of a company-wide plan to protect the future of the business.

Last year, Clarks sold a majority stake in the business to LionRock Capital, bringing to an end nearly 100 years of Clarks family majority ownership of the firm, though they do remain invested in the company.

According to the Community union, which is representing the Clarks warehouse workers, this renegotiation of employment terms and conditions is effectively a "fire and rehire" scheme.

The union says that if the workers do not accept the changes, they will be fired, and if they do, they will effectively be rehired by the company.

Speaking to Street Nub News on the picket line this morning, regional organiser from the Community union Daniel Francois, said the main concern was over cuts in pay.

He said: "There are such stringent cuts to everything and it's not just about taking away job security in light of sickness and redundancies, it's impacting the actual take home wage so people literally can't afford to live going forward.

"It is an indefinite strike at the moment, we are happy to get back around the table and discuss with Clarks, but until that happens we will be on the picket line.

"About 80 per cent of the warehouse are out on strike and the picket line has been very full. We are getting great support from people passing by."

Community union branch secretary Jon Gray added that there was big concern at the distribution centre over the downgrading of the employees' terms and conditions.

"We are looking at a situation where many of our workers, who have been working for Clarks for years, could be losing £1.66 an hour," he said.

"There is an uplift for some of our newer workers who will earn a higher wage, but it's reaching that common ground in the middle so that everybody's happy.

"The support has been absolutely fantastic. We just want to give them back round a table to negotiate some realistic terms that we can accept."

'Contingency plans in place'

In response to the strike, a Clarks spokesperson told Street Nub News that they were seeking fairness of employment for all their workers, and the strike did not have an impact on staff at its headquarters in Street.

The spokesperson said: "At our Westway Distribution Centre in Street we continue to consult with employees on proposed changes to employment terms and conditions for all operatives.

"It is crucial that Clarks achieves sustainable employment costs, but it is equally fundamental that it achieves fairness between its distribution operatives, where differences in hourly rates of pay currently exist.

"As the consultation process is ongoing, we are disappointed that some employees have voted in favour of industrial action.

"Right from the start Clarks has taken a constructive and collaborative approach, seeking to reach a compromise and avoid the need to terminate contracts on current terms and offer re-engagement on new terms, which the company has always regarded as the very last resort.

"We remain hopeful for a constructive conclusion in due course, based on the significant concessions Clarks has made in respect of its proposal of new terms.

"We can also confirm that the company has contingency plans in place that aim to minimise the impact to our customers as a result of this action.

"Clarks has been consulting with unions and employees on proposed changes to employment terms and conditions for both our UK corporate employees and our UK distribution centre operatives at our Westway Distribution Centre in Street.

"Clarks did not undertake this lightly, but the proposals are part of a company-wide plan to protect the future of the business which has been under stress for several years and especially during the pandemic.

"These proposals follow a review of Clarks' operating model and form part of the company's measures to secure future viability, with a view to protecting jobs.

"Right from the start Clarks has taken a constructive and collaborative approach in both HQ and distribution centre consultation processes, seeking to reach a compromise.

"Following a collective consultation with employee and trade union representatives, Clarks has reached a compromise on proposed changes to employment terms and conditions for its UK corporate employees, which include the HQ in Street.

"As a result of the constructive negotiations, Clarks compromised on the proposals originally set out by the company, including the removal of a reduction of holiday entitlement, and improving proposed terms relating to sick pay and maternity pay.

"Clarks confirms that the vast majority of UK corporate and HQ employees - approximately 98 per cent - have so far accepted the new terms and conditions."