NHS supply lorry drivers plan multiple walkouts over rejected 4% pay offer

Unite-affiliated lorry drivers who service the NHS supply chain across England are set to stage a series of strikes after turning down a 4% pay increase from their employer GXO. The action will occur in six regions - Tyne and Wear, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Warwickshire and Suffolk - with five separate walkout periods scheduled between October 13 and November 12. GXO, which operates the contract for Supply Chain Coordination Limited, a subsidiary of NHS England, says the offer is reasonable and emphasizes that patient care will not be compromised.

Union regional officer Phil Silkstone described the drivers as dedicated workers and accused GXO of refusing a reasonable proposal, noting that a settlement could still avert the strikes. Both NHS Supply Chain and GXO claim robust contingency measures are ready to minimise any impact on the delivery of essential items such as bandages, gowns and needles to hospitals. Strike sites include depots in Alfreton, Bridgwater, Normanton, Maidstone, Rugby, Bury St Edmonds and Washington. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over pay within the public-sector supply chain.