Milk supplies are to be hit over Easter as union members working for Arla Foods are set to strike over terms and conditions.
Gmb said their members were 'incredibly upset and angry' about their pay and conditions when they are transferred to a new employer.
Milk supplies to supermarkets could be disrupted over the Easter holiday.
Arla Foods, based in Leeds, have decided to transfer drivers (under TUPE regulation - Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)) to Moran Logistics, also based in Leeds. The transfer of the drivers occurs on Sunday.
An Arla Foods spokesman said: "Arla Foods is a cooperative owned by 13,500 farmers across Europe nearly 3,000 of whom are British. In what continues to be a challenging period for the dairy industry, we’ve needed to review our operations to improve our efficiency and remain competitive.
"This has been key to our decision to outsource the outbound logistics operation run from the Leeds Transport Hub to Moran Logistics under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).
"Under TUPE, contracts of employment including existing terms and conditions for all the colleagues affected will transfer to Moran Logistics. We remain in communication with representatives of all those affected and we are committed to supporting our colleagues as we go through these changes."
GMB and Unite plan to service notice on Moran’s Logistics for a ballot for strike action and/or industrial action short of a strike if the assurances sought on pay and jobs are not forthcoming. Given all the notice periods the aim is to conclude the balloting process by the third week in March.
Rachel Dix, GMB Regional Officer, said: “Our members are incredibly upset and angry. They feel that Arla is relinquishing all responsibility for a long-serving, loyal workforce.
This is compounded by the company's refusal to share key information on how cost savings can be generated by this transfer. In the absence of this detail, we can only conclude that both pay and jobs will be put at risk. This has to be challenged.
GMB said Danish-owned Arla and Morans Logistics are in cahoots to attack the pay, and terms and conditions of our members.
"We cannot accept that Moran Logistics will not recognise the two unions for collective bargaining purposes on behalf of the drivers.”
Matt Draper, Unite national officer for road transport, said: “Unless Morans Logistics gets around the table for meaningful negotiations about recognising the unions and guaranteeing our members’ terms and conditions, the drivers could be striking over the forthcoming Easter holiday.
The drivers, with over 1000 years of loyal service, are being dumped by Arla - the company has repeatedly refused to share with the two unions the financial information to support this decision.
The continued refusal to supply this data endorses the joint unions belief that pay and conditions will be attacked once the transfer has been completed. Morans refusal to recognise the unions strengthens this view further.
Both Arla and Morans have treated these loyal workers with utter contempt, refusing to supply the necessary supporting evidence. Arla has evaded its moral obligation. Both companies are complicit in attacking our members terms and conditions.”
