Shop Direct, formally known as Littlewoods, 1,000 staff at their Sunderland based contact centre are being sent ballot papers after staff complained that the managment's pay rises fell below the inflation rate.

A spokeswoman for the Shop Direct workers said the situation had reached breaking point. She said: "It's got to the stage now where members are coming out with the same kind of money they were getting 10 years ago and they can't do it any longer. It's not a nice position to be in, but workers can't afford it any longer. A lot of people who work here are the sole earners and are having to do two jobs because one isn't enough."

The workers, represented by the GMB union, will be sent ballot slips on Tuesday12th August to be returned on September 2. If the motion is supported, it could mean union members will strike at the call centre at Corporation Road, Hendon.

A spokesman from Shop Direct Group said: "Over the past four months, Shop Direct Group has undertaken lengthy negotiations with its joint trade unions (Usdaw, GMB and Unite) over annual pay increases.

Date Posted: Saturday 9th August 2008 - 06:43