Lancashire Waitrose distribution staff told they are transferring to another firm

Staff at a Lancashire distribution centre are no longer going to be Waitrose partners after the supermarket firm handed the site’s work to a logistics company.
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Some 430 of the staff there will transfer to XPO Logistics, while 14 Waitrose staff who work in the vehicle maintenance unit on the site will remain as Partners.

Those that are transferred are likely to lose benefits that the supermarket chains staff get, although negotiations are believed to be ongoing as part of the transfer process.

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A Waitrose statement said: “We can confirm that we have reached an agreement with XPO Logistics to operate the Waitrose distribution centre in Leyland, Lancashire on our behalf.

The Leyland Waitrose Regional Distribution Centre on the Matrix Business Park at Buckshaw VillageThe Leyland Waitrose Regional Distribution Centre on the Matrix Business Park at Buckshaw Village
The Leyland Waitrose Regional Distribution Centre on the Matrix Business Park at Buckshaw Village

“Leyland remains key to our operations, however, the site remains significantly underused.

“We have been discussing potential solutions with our Partners since last summer.

“The decision safeguards Leyland’s future and secures employment for 436 Waitrose Partners working there who will transfer to XPO this summer under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).

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Andrew Murphy, executive director of operations, said: “I am very grateful for the efforts of Partners in Leyland who have served the Partnership brilliantly.

“The agreement announced today secures employment at the site and I am confident that, under the stewardship of XPO Logistics, Leyland will go from strength to strength.”

Last month when teh news of the proposed move broke, the Post was told by an employee at the centre who said: “Around 450 HGV drivers and warehouse staff at the Leyland Waitrose RDC have been told that hey will be thrown out of the Partnership and transferred to a third party logistics firm.

“These Partners have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID pandemic to keep supermarkets shelves stocked,only for the Partnership to throw them under a bus.”

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