Harlow: Public Meeting Over Tesco Distribution Centre

Workers at the Tesco distribution centre in Harlow, that is earmarked for closure, say they are being priced out of jobs at a new site in Dagenham.

It was announced in February the supermarket intended to close the Essex plant, putting 800 jobs at risk, in favour of the new, bigger facility in Dagenham. 

Originally, the Dagenham plant was aimed to run alongside the existing Harlow one, but Tesco says the situation changed and neither plant would be running at full capacity. 

The company says that as the Dagenham site is larger, it would remain open at the expense of the facility in Harlow. 

A public meeting was held yesterday (Friday, March 22) where workers had the chance to question representatives of the company about their future and any potential move. 

Tesco has been adamant it wants to keep any staff in employment who want to stay working for the company and will give staff in Harlow the opportunity to take up some of the positions in the new plant. 

However, staff would have to cut their pay by a third and some believe the company wants to fill the jobs with much cheaper labour. 

Tony Wakefield, who works at the Harlow site, told Heart moving is not viable: "Most people want to go to Dagenham, but it is literally financially impossible. 

"I believe Tesco are putting an offer on the table so people can't go. 

"If my life depended on it, I cannot afford to go. 

"If you're paying £250 on petrol and your money has dropped by a third, people physically cannot get their and Tesco know that. It's a myth that they want to employ us." 

Victoria McKenzie-Gordon from Tesco insists that is not the case though: "Pay-rates across distribution networks are set across local markets. 

"Those rates don't transfer but we are committed to offering a job to everyone who wants one and we really want to keep everyone with us. 

"We've got a package of support that we are consulting on with colleagues that includes support with transport costs, extended trial times so you can see if you want to work somewhere for eight weeks rather than four weeks, it includes support with training if that's what you need, it includes support with the relocation package if that's what colleagues want." 

A consultation on the intention to shut the Harlow plant started two weeks ago and is due to run until the beginning of June and Tesco says all options are still on the table, although they still plan to shut the plant. 

Essex MEP, Richard Howitt, who was also at the meeting, says it is important the consultation is done properly: "They have to consult under European Law and if they don't do so in good faith they are breaking that law. 

"I warned them if they do so I will bring them to book. "Harlow is a better place to distribute goods up the M11 and around the country than the middle of London with all the congestion and traffic problems and that's just common sense to understand. 

"It's one of the most productive plants among any supermarket and I think if the workforce and the union are given the chance to come up with an alternative plan, that there is one that can be profitable for Tesco and keep the Harlow one open". 

Mr Howitt also says he does not believe other options have been looked at: "I've asked them today in public tell us one idea that has come forward that you have listened to and thought 'yes we could change what we're doing because of it' and they could not give one example." 

Tesco says that it is considering all options and the consultation will run until June.