TESCO HAS denied claims that staff commuting from Dundee to its Livingston depot have been told cut down on car sharing in a bid to curb lateness.

Employees have told The Courier that staff who are commuting from Dundee have been asked by the company not to travel with more than two per car.

The employee, who asked not to be named, said, “This is because, if there are traffic jams on the road, a vehicle carrying three or four members being delayed would cause greater disruption to the Livingston workplace than a car containing only one or two Tesco employees.”

Another added, “It seems absurd to me, because, if there is a traffic jam, then four cars with a Tesco employee in each might be delayed as long as a single car with four Tesco employees—so this rule might make no difference. Four cars would also cause more congestion on the road and might potentially lead to more traffic delays.”

Tesco said a year ago that all 432 jobs at its Baird Avenue distribution depot in Dundee would go following relocation of its Scottish operations to Livingston. Earlier this year, staff were given the option of a trial period at Livingston ahead of possible relocation.

When asked about the car sharing claim, a Tesco spokesman said, “It may be the case that a manager has suggested this, but it is not company policy to tell staff how to get to work.”

* Distribution drivers at the Livingston depot are to strike from Thursday to Saturday next week. The industrial action by nearly 150 drivers is likely to hit deliveries to around 100 of the firm’s stores.