Thirst for CWU representation as recruitment begins at GXO’s Midway Distribution Centre
Telecoms & Financial Services May 10 2023
Recruitment has got off to a rip-roaring start at GXO’s Midway Distribution Centre in Milton Keynes – with no fewer than 30 new members joining the union at the CWU’s first ever visit to the site.
Following Supply Chain’s outsourcing of its warehouse and transport operations to logistics giant GXO last May – and a new recognition agreement covering around 300 transferring team member employees at other sites, including Magna Park and Northallerton – access has now been extended to the company’s un-unionised Midway depot.
Speaking in advance of a repeat ‘Meet the CWU’ event at the site, which will take place tomorrow (Thursday), CWU national officer Tracey Fussey told CWU News: “With GXO clearly going for growth, it’s more important than ever that we actively extend the benefits of trade union membership to not just new recruits at ex-Supply Chain sites across the country with a long history of CWU representation – but also to the workforce at Midway who only now have the opportunity to join the union.
“Their thirst for CWU representation was self-evident when local management welcomed us onto the site for our very first recruitment session late last month, with 30 signing up for membership in just a few hours.”
The event, which was held in the canteen/rest area, was organised by the CWU’s Central Counties & Thames Valley (CCTV) branch – with branch secretary Richard Abbiss joining Tracey and TFS Executive member Peter Francis to explain the benefits having a collective voice in the workplace to a highly receptive audience.
“It was very encouraging to go into a site with no history of trade union representation and to receive such an enthusiastic response,” stresses Richard.
“The fact that we started the day with no members at Midway at all and ended it with 30 is brilliant in itself, but also demonstrates a real desire for a collective voice that bodes well for future recruitment.”
Thanking management for their help in facilitating the initial Midway recruitment event, Tracey concludes: “There’s no doubt that the refreshingly positive welcome we received on site set the tone for a highly successful celebration of what we can achieve by working together in a spirit of partnership.
“That’s something we’re obviously looking to build on for the benefit of all our members in GXO – wherever they work in the company.”
- Tomorrow’s follow-up ‘Meet the Union’ session at the Midway Distribution Centre will once again take place in the canteen/rest area at lunchtime – and those who joined up during the CWU’s last visit are urged to spread the word.
In the meantime, any GXO team member employees who are not currently members of the union can easily and quickly join the CWU by clicking here.