STRIKING lorry drivers brought an armoured car to their Doncaster picket line as they protested over likely job losses.
Drivers from the union Unite protested outside the Tesco distribution centre at Middle Bank during a three-day strike.
They are taking action after their jobs were transferred from Tesco to Eddie Stobart, with the haulage firm warning them their jobs are at risk of redundancy.
The armoured car carried a banner saying: “Tesco’s finest 200 sacked – shame on Eddie Stobart and Tesco.”
Driver Trevor Cheetham, aged 62, who participated in the protest, said the armoured car belonged to one of the striking drivers.
He said: “It was a light-hearted gesture and the public definitely took to it.
“I suppose it was a bit of Yorkshire banter. We have had support from MPs such as Ed Miliband who, like us, are amazed at the situation.
“The whole community is disgusted that potentially 200 men could be on the dole for Christmas, while both Tesco and Eddie Stobart continue to make profits.”
Last month the drivers, who have already walked out twice, rejected a new offer made by the haulage firm which took over the operation from Tesco in August and announced a reorganisation in September.
An Eddie Stobart spokesman said: “The industrial action so far has achieved nothing, other than to take money out of the pockets of drivers and put jobs and financial packages in jeopardy.”
Tesco spokeswoman Hannah Carolin added: “We hope that talks will resume as soon as possible between Unite and Eddie Stobart Ltd, and that a settlement can be reached.”
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