TESCO has agreed to reopen talks with a union after members in nine distribution centres vote to strike in disputes over pay.

Union members at nine distribution centres - including Southampton - have opted for industrial action following a row over pay.

In two separate ballots, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) members have voted 73 per cent and 84 per cent in favour of striking.

Now, Usdaw has welcomed Tesco’s offer of further talks, but planned industrial action, starting on Monday, December 20 and concluding on Christmas Eve, is at this stage still set to go ahead.

The two disputes involve over 5,000 Usdaw members at Tesco distribution centres in Daventry Clothing, Goole, Hinckley, Lichfield, Livingston, Magor (both trunk and main sites), Peterborough and Southampton.

Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw National Officer said: “We welcome the Tesco’s offer of further talks, which start tomorrow, and we will engage positively to seek a resolution to this dispute.

“Industrial action is always a last resort for our members. We sincerely hope that fresh negotiations can result in an acceptable offer from the business to avoid possible stock shortages in stores in the week before Christmas.”