Strike action at Lockwood Haulage threatens to hit Coca-Cola deliveries

Around 40 Lockwood Haulage workers are taking all-out strike action in a dispute over a 1% pay offer, which union Unite described as an 'insult' to the workforce. Unite is warning that the strike, which is taking place at Lockwood's Knottingley and South Kirby depots in West Yorkshire, could impact work for customer Ardagh Glass. The glass maker supplies bottles to drinks manufacturers including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Stella Artois and Heineken. The sites also produce bottles for brands including Jameson, J&B and Johnnie Walker, as well as wine bottles. The Unite members, who work as forklift truck drivers and machine operators in Lockwood's glass division, began their strike action on 2 September. The workers have rejected a 1% pay increase, applied across all grades and allowances and backdated to 1 March 2025. Unite said Lockwood has also proposed replacing annual pay increases with an attendance-based bonus scheme. Workers would receive £250 per quarter if they met the required attendance criteria. The employees previously worked for GXO and transferred to Lockwood under TUPE in March 2025. Unite said they have not received a pay increase since October 2023. The workers operate a four-days-on, four-days-off shift pattern, with their pay covering weekend working, shift allowances and bank holidays. Unite said it has held several meetings with Lockwood but has been unable to reach an agreement. General secretary Sharon Graham said the pay offer was a 'kick in the teeth' to the workers, who she said had not had a pay rise in nearly three years. She added that a 1% pay rise offer was an insult to the workers. She continues: 'Moving away from yearly increases to a bonus scheme is simply another way to shortchange our members at Lockwood. Unite will not allow this unacceptable attack on pay and our members have our full support in their industrial action.' Unite regional officer Jessica Sangha said the action could have been avoided if Lockwood had improved its pay offer. 'Any strike action is completely the fault of Lockwood management, who have insulted our members with this paltry pay offer. 'Industrial action can be avoided, but that relies on Lockwood coming back with improvements to the pay offer which our members will find acceptable,' she said. The dispute follows previous industrial action at Lockwood's Knottingley site in July 2025, when workers struck over union recognition after their transfer from GXO. GXO workers had been covered by union recognition, but Unite said Lockwood initially refused to recognise the union following the transfer. The union subsequently won recognition and is now formally recognised for collective bargaining at Lockwood. Lockwood Haulage declined to comment when contacted by MT.