Union to campaign against potential hundreds of job losses across country as warehouses set to close

Unite the union is holding talks with FedEx in a last-gasp bid to try to keep a number of  warehouses open across the UK.

FedEx has announced they are looking to permanently close sites including in Parkhouse, Staffordshire and Dartford, Kent, as part of an efficiency drive. Hundreds of jobs at all sites could be at risk with some long-serving employees having worked at the site since they left school - and now face the daunting prospect of finding new employment.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“FedEx UK is a profitable company and their parent organisation in the US makes billions so it is inexcusable that it is making hundreds of job losses to simply maximise profits without a care or thought given to the impact this will have on workers, their families and communities across the UK.”

A final decision on closures is potentially  two-and-a-half years away, creating  immediate uncertainty. Unite is calling for an immediate consultation discussing the effect this decision will have on local economies. While some jobs may be offered on transfer most of Unite's members will not be able to move great distances to new "super-hubs". Unite will be providing members with as much knowledge and support as possible and looking to negotiate favourable redundancy packages and potential training and upskilling opportunities so staff can find new work.


Unite regional officer Matt Draper added:


“Unite will be fully supporting our members at this difficult time. We represent a large number of workers across multiple sites in the UK and will be looking to negotiate a suitable timeline for any restructuring to minimise job losses and to allow upskilling of workers to take place.

"We will also be arguing from a trade union perspective that they should keep the Parkhouse and Dartford sites open. We don’t believe there is a good business rationale in closing  centreswith such a pivotal central location or one near the biggest entry and exit point to the continent. We are meeting with FedEx on May 28 to discuss the situation. We will provide regular updates as the negotiations and consultations unfold over the following months.”

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