The Co-operative Group is planning an unpopular move of 50 of its Coventry-based drivers to haulier Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL).

Due to the planned transfer, the Co-op's drivers have put forward a 1,000 consultative ballot to call for industrial action, reports Unite the Union.

Trade union Unite says that it has raised serious concerns about the Co-op's proposal as ESL has been guilty of treating workers badly who were transferred to its operations on previous occasions.

The country's largest union has used the example of when Tesco transferred 184 of its drivers to ESL, which resulted in those drivers receiving a termination of employment notice. Some of those affected by the transfer to ESL and its subsequent redundancy are currently still out of work.

Unite national officer for retail distribution Adrian Jones said: "Our members' job security across the national transport network is being put at risk by the Co-op's action. We are taking the temperature for industrial action and expect to then move to a full industrial action ballot."