Speaking from a lively picket line, Kevin Hall, Unite regional industrial organiser, said every attempt had been made by the workers' trade union to get Nippon Express to honour a longstanding agreement to go to the independent Arbitration Conciliation and Advisory Service (Acas).

The dispute has arisen after the company offered a below inflation pay award of only 2.8 per cent to the 45 strong workforce who deal with warehousing, cargo handling and truck driving. Mr. Hall said new shift patterns, which the company was seeking to impose at the same time, would mean the union's members losing over a thousand pounds each year.

"We have done everything we can to settle this dispute fairly for our members and in line with the agreements we have with the company," stressed Mr. Hall. "But we have been met by a brick wall. That's why we're out on strike today."

Unite leaders have also confirmed that approaches are to be made through local politicians to the Japanese embassy to see if pressure can be brought to bear through that route.

Further strikes are planned for Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August if no resolution can be found.

Unite has seen its membership double at Nippon Express since the dispute started earlier this year. Mr. Hall said the continuing refusal to go to Acas only reinforces the union's view that the company is "hell bent on not only reducing our members' terms and conditions of employment but also removing Unite from Nippon Express."

ENDS

Unite was formed on 1st May 2007 from a merger of amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G)

Some pictures from the picket line are available from  adodgshon@tgwu.org.uk For further information please call the T&G section of Unite Press Office on 020 7611 2550