A COMPANY based in Warrington will face strike action from employees following the dismissal of a union rep.

The individual, who is a representative of the union Unite, was dismissed from Warrington-based logistics company GXO.

Responding to this, other union members will take industrial action at the company for an 'indefinite' period of time.

HGV drivers, employed by GXO on the contract to supply City Plumbing and PTS outlets, are set to take strike action from later this month, following the sacking of a rep.

The rep, Paul Roberts, was dismissed on what the union is calling 'trumped up charges.'

However, GXO says that Mr Roberts was dismissed for gross misconduct, and his dismissal was nothing to do with his role as a rep for Unite.

The drivers' strike will begin on Monday, May 22, and will see the supply of materials to City Plumbing and PTS quickly run dry.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will do absolutely everything in its power to defend our reps.

"Unite can’t allow our reps to be victimised or dismissed by unscrupulous employers who’re desperate to break the union.

“Unite will leave no stone unturned until our member has been reinstated.”

Regional officer for  Kenny Rowe said: “The strike action will cause huge disruption to City Plumbing and PTS and to plumbers across the UK, but this dispute is entirely of GXO’s own making.

“Not only has the company victimised a Unite rep but it has refused to accept the error of its ways and fairly resolved the situation.”

Despite this, GXO says the union has the wrong end of the stick.

A GXO spokesperson said: "The dismissal in question was fair and reasonable, following an internal investigation and disciplinary action, for gross misconduct in violation of our policies.

"GXO is supportive and respectful of its colleagues’ membership to, and right to collective self-expression within, Unite and other unions.

"We will work with Unite on this matter, with a view to reach a speedy resolution.”