TRADE union members at the Sainsbury's distribution centre in Basingstoke have voted to strike should negotiations falter over controversial new weekend working hours.

A total of 350 members of the Transport and General Workers' (TGW) Union attended a meeting at the union's clubhouse last Sunday morning. There they voted unanimously for industrial action in the event of talks with the management failing.

The union members are unhappy about changes being put forward by the company, which would see employees working more weekends. Should negotiations to resolve the matter fail, a strike will be called to coincide with the busy Easter period.

A union shop steward at the site, who did not wish to be named, said: "We would like to find a way forward which is good for both sides - but if we have to, we will empty the shelves for Easter to cause maximum disruption.

"A strike would be the last resort as action could be quite damaging and the only winners would be Tesco and ASDA."

The Basingstoke depot is one of Sainsbury's three big distribution centres in England. Similar union meetings over the issue are believed to be planned at the other two, in Waltham Point, off the M25, and Haydock in Merseyside, this weekend.

Employees at the Basingstoke depot already work 50 per cent of weekends, but the company would like to raise this to 75 per cent while offering no financial compensation.

The shop steward said: "No one in their right mind would want to work every weekend, especially if there is no reward for it.

"People's work-to-life balance will be altered if they have to work more weekends and they stand to get nothing in return."

The changes would help to bring Sainsbury's into line with other major supermarkets that operate a 24-hour ordering system for their stores. Staff at Sainsbury's stores currently have to order deliveries 48 hours in advance.

Union branch bosses also claim they are finding it hard to talk to the supply chain director, Lawrence Christensen, and are being informed of decisions rather than consulted.

"Our problem is that the management are taking away the rights and bargaining powers of the TGW Union," said the shop steward.

"I have been here a long time and never before have we been given notice of an agreement. There have always been negotiations. There are going to be more negotiations now, but we are still not quite sure what will happen."

A statement issued by Sainsbury's said that the company is in discussion with employees in supply chains to bring working practices into line with other UK supermarkets and improve customer service. The company added that this process has only just begun.