FREIGHT workers who handle deliveries for Tesco, Argos, John Lewis and Amazon were “stabbed in the back” by new bare minimum redundancy terms, Unite said today.

Following logistics firm RXO’s decision to close its Shawcross warehouse in West Yorkshire, about 70 workers are facing minimum severance terms despite years of service at the multibillion-pound company.

Unite said HGV drivers have been offered enhanced redundancy terms but warehouse and other staff only received statutory redundancy offers.

RXO has said non-drivers were not entitled to enhanced redundancy under terms agreed upon with the previous managers of the site, UPS. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “RXO’s betrayal of these loyal and long-standing workers is absolutely disgusting and is nothing more than naked corporate greed.”

She added that her union “will continue to apply maximum pressure on the company to treat these workers fairly.”

An RXO spokesperson said the company “has completed a collective consultation process with employees and will be outsourcing its driver operations in Shaw Cross and Derby to an external transportation provider.

“All drivers will be managed via TUPE. In addition, RXO will be closing warehouse operations located at the Shaw Cross site. We will consult individually with affected employees and are committed to paying all contractual and statutory payments.

“When completed, this will affect approximately 70 positions in Shaw Cross and will create 14 hybrid or Derby-based positions.”