The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

WHS staff to strike in Paris

30.06.08 Tom Holman

Staff at W H Smith's Paris branch are to strike over pay and conditions. Of the store's 43 staff, 36 will join a picket outside the branch tomorrow (1st July) at the beginning of a 24-hour strike.

Christopher Saynor, a bookseller at the branch, said the action followed months of unease over cost-cutting measures imposed on the store from the UK. Bonuses, overtime and Sunday and Bank Holiday rates have been cut, and staff say recent pay rises are insufficient to meet rising costs of living."They're trying to squeeze every last cent out of us—but they don't seem to understand that if you keep squeezing something it goes dry," said Saynor.

Staff at the Paris branch have received advice from Unite, WHS' staff's major union in the UK. Saynor added that a strike was a last resort. "Most of us do not want to do this—we really value our customers and we're committed to making the shop successful—but we feel we have to."

Poor communication from UK management over the grievances had left staff with little option, he added. "If someone came to talk to us properly we could work this out."

A WHS spokesperson said the company was in discussions with staff at the branch and was seeking a resolution. The Paris shop, opened in 1903, is WHS only remaining dedicated bookseller overseas and is the city's largest source of English language books.

Retail International People Tom Holman Home France WHS

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