We have one major supermarket in our high street – it’s a Co-op. Though, yes, I know a new Budgens is opening almost opposite.
Its shelves get replenished on a Tuesday. But last week they were largely empty because the Co-op lorry never arrived. Sarah asked the store manager what was happening, ad she was told this was not – as the Conservative media would have us believe – something to do with crazy covid pingbacks. In fact, it is a little more serious than that.
The lorry remains at its distribution centre, un-driven and unloaded, and there it looks like staying. This, is a sort of Brexit problem. It is all about serious staff shortages – because the foreign workers have largely now gone. and those who might aspire to replace them will not touch a job on those kind of impoverishing conditions.
I have no idea if the Co-op insists on zero-hour contracts for its delivery drivers, but many of their competitors certainly do. Why should British workers take those kind of jobs. They don’t want to live in a caravan somewhere, or campsite or hostel – any more than I do.
What is happening, in fact, is that Brexit has fuelled what will look increasingly like food price inflation. But it is somehow justifiable price inflation – finally those how grow it and transport it will be paid adequately, perhaps even enough to allow them to afford to eat better themselves.
European companies are expecting a 17% shortfall in drivers this year.
https://www.iru.org/resources/newsroom/new-iru-survey-shows-driver-shortages-soar-2021
The real story behind Europe’s haulage crunch
https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/trade/the-real-story-behind-europes-haulage-crunch/?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Newsletter_11_July_2021&utm_medium=email