More than 3,000 Tesco warehouse workers and HGV drivers at operations in Didcot, Belfast, Doncaster and Thurrock are being balloted over strike action, the Unite union said today.
The workers have rejected a 4% pay rise, which the union said was considerably below the 5.1% given to store staff.
They have voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot in favour of strike action.
Unite said anger over the deal was heightened by Tesco reporting adjusted operating profits of £3.2bn for 2025/26 and forecasting an adjusted operating profit of between £3bn and £3.3bn for 2026/27.
“Tesco is making massive profits and paying out millions in shareholder dividends and executive pay while their own workers are left to struggle with a baked in cost of living crisis,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“If the bosses at Tesco won’t give their warehouse workers and HGV drivers a fair piece of the pie, they could soon start to see empty shelves in their shops across the country. Unite will be backing these workers 100%.”
The ballot for strike action closes on 17 August.
Strike action would involve around 700 Didcot workers, 400 Belfast workers, 600 Doncaster workers and 1,400 Thurrock workers – severely impacting distribution to Tesco stores across the UK.
Unite national officer for road transport and logistics Adrian Jones added: “There is still time for industrial action to be avoided but that will require Tesco making an acceptable offer.”
A Tesco spokesman said: “We have made a fair offer which would see colleagues receive an above-inflation pay award. We remain focused on reaching an agreement, and have well-established contingency plans to ensure there are no issues with availability.”
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