Co-op jobs come and go
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The Co-op plans to slash 400 jobs from distribution — but hire 70 new
drivers. Sally Nash reports.
MORE TH AN 40 drivers face losing their jobs following a distribution shake-up at the Co-op Group but the company says many new drivers will be needed when a new distribution centre opens in Coventry next month.
It is expected that 44 drivers will be made redundant out of a total of 400 job losses, but the shop workers' union USDAW hopes to minimise redundancies and redeploy staff where possible.
National officer Sharon Ainsworth says: "We have until September to help our members fmd alternative jobs. We have begun the consultation process and we will he using the coming months to explore every option that will save jobs." And a Co-op spokesman says a major distribution centre opening at Coventry will need about 70 drivers.
Pressure on the Co-op's RDCs has grown since it bought 630 Alldays convenience stores two years ago, he adds: -We needed to free up capacity at some of our regional distribution centres as a result of our expansion.