THE Argos distribution centre in Basildon is set to be at the centre of a strike by workers angry at their terms and conditions.

The’s distribution warehouse in Miles Gray Road is one of the four sites leading a strike against the company.

In a dispute over its failure to negotiate a national agreement covering redundancy and severance packages, Argos employees are once again making a stand.

Strikes are set begin at Basildon, Bridgwater in Somerset, Castleford in West Yorkshire and Heywood, Greater Manchester early tomorrow morning and end on September 5.

England’s largest union, Unite, which represents the 1,100 workers affected, has warned that even the smallest disruption or delay will unfavourably impact on the supply chain thanks to the firm’s ‘just in time’ delivery policy. The union is worried about the intentions of Argos which is now owned by supermarket giant Sainbury’s.

Unite national officer for logistics and retail distribution, Matt Draper, said: “What we are faced with is the thin end of the wedge with Sainsbury’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, and that the not-so-hidden agenda is serious cost-cutting to the detriment of our members. We call on the management to negotiate a new agreement in a constructive manner and in good faith, otherwise this industrial action that our members overwhelmingly voted for, will go ahead. Unite’s door for talks remains open 24/7”

Unite is angry that Argos has failed to give guarantees that workers’ future terms and conditions will be safeguarded, after nearly 500 workers were transferred from its Lutterworth distribution base in Leicestershire to Wincanton Logistics in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The strike comes three months after 1,400 warehouse staff across south Essex, Bridgewater, Burton-on-Trent, Heywood and Lutterworth walked out over job security and contracts. The workers, who prepare deliveries for Argos stores, believed that a culture of contracting-out work would lead to a significant risk to current employees’ jobs.

An Argos spokesperson said, “We’re disappointed with the union’s actions, which are based on unreasonable demands and are wholly unnecessary. Customers will not be impacted and should be reassured that full contingency plans are in place.”