WILKO workers have announced fresh strike action in response to a row over “brutal” new weekend rotas.
Around 1,800 members of the GMB union who work in two distribution centres will walk out for 48 hours from 6am on October 21.
These are on top of the previously announced strikes on October 11 and 14.
The two distribution centres where union members will take part in protests are in Magor, South Wales, and Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Around 600 employees will walk out from Magor, while 1,200 will take part in protests in Worksop.
Workers voted to strike last month over a change in rotas with some staff claiming they're being made to work every weekend.
Why do Wilko workers want to strike?
AROUND 1,800 Wilko workers are set to strike over a row about weekend work.
Wilko said it's had to increase the amount of staff working weekend shifts to cope with an increase in demand for seven-day shopping.
But staff are complaining that they have no time to see their family, while some say they are exhausted by the extra work.
GMB official Nicola Savage said: "Our members feel backed into a corner, and strike action is the only option left open to them."
Union members say the new structure is stopping staff seeing their families, as well as leaving some feeling overworked.
Gary Carter, GMB national officer, told the BBC: "These brutal rotas just won't work, and seven-day deliveries have not improved availability in store.
"Wilko has struggled with stock, transport and there aren't enough employees in store to get goods on the shelves."
A Wilko spokesperson said the need for extra weekend work is in response to customer demand for seven-day shopping.
They said: “We’re sorry it has come to this and would like to reassure our customers and team members that we have robust plans in place so they can continue to shop and work with us as normal.
“We’re the last of the major retailers to introduce regular weekend working in our distribution centres.
“We want to support our team members in responding to the 24/7 reality of retailing today while also helping them to spend as much time as possible with their families.”
The spokesperson said Wilko has a given 400 team members an additional weekend off before peak trading starts at Christmas.
In a recent meeting with the union, Wilko has also offered to guarantee two in three weekends off outside of peak from January 2020 onwards.
Virgin Atlantic pilots are voting whether to strike at Christmas – risking chaos for thousands of travellers.
While more British Airways strikes could be on the way after airline lost £121million during the last series of walkouts.
Today we reported on how Ryanair is "wriggling out of paying compensation to passengers" for delayed and cancelled flights, Which? has said.
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