(21 Jul 2022, 10:05 pm)N1cholas wrote The company are basically saying take the relocation package and move quietly or you go on strike, loose all relocation packages and move anyway, one way or another chester will close no matter the speed someone at chester has the northern echo on speed dial, it really is a £2250 question

The industrial action ballot should answer that £2250 question, given they'll need at least a 50% turnout with a majority in favour of action, in order to legally go on strike. 

I'm not surprised to see the relocation package removed from the table, if it goes ahead. That's far from being uncommon and is why most offers are made on a without prejudice basis.

(22 Jul 2022, 12:19 am)streetdeckfan wrote Is it wrong to feel bad for GNE over this?

CLS is a dilapidated money pit so obviously has to go, GNE seem to have offered a very generous relocation package to staff for moving. The union is being their usual pain in the arse self and causing trouble. A 'whistle blower' *cough*the union*cough* keeps 'leaking' documents to the press to show how evil they are to try and get their way.

I genuinely can't even see why they're wasting energy on this matter. CLS is closing, there's nowt they can do to change that. Plus, if what Dan is saying is true, and GNE will be over-staffed, then what is the incentive for GNE to keep them happy?

This may be a bit controversial, but IMO if they do go on strike, I hope GNE keep to their word and scrap the relocation offer (at least only for those individuals who go on strike, if legal), then they've got nobody else to blame but themselves.

If you put the Daily Mail down for a second, you might want to read up on the history of trade unions and why they continue to play an important role across the world. A union represents it's members, and if their members are concerned and democratically agree to fight the closure of their workplace, then it's up to the union to support that action. Even with some of the most anti-Trade Union laws in Europe, that is still considered grounds for a valid trade dispute in the UK.

You say that they've turned down a 'very generous' relocation package, but then you're working on the baseless assumption that money is a motivating factor for everyone that works at the depot. It's not always the case; different people have different reasons. They've done a consultative ballot with an extremely strong mandate from members, so let's see what the statutory ballot brings in terms of turnout and support.

Oh and I'm sure Unite would be very interested in your potentially libellous accusation that they're leaking internal documents to the press.