Technicians employed at Hedin Group’s Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the London region are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay, according to the Unite union.
The potential industrial action involves staff at four Hedin sites – Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford – who carry out vehicle servicing, repairs and MOTs.
Unite says the ballot follows the company’s refusal to table a pay offer for 2025, despite rising inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
Unite claims that the workers received a 2% pay rise in 2024, at a time when RPI inflation averaged 3.6% pointing out that RPI for April stood at 4.5%.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hedin cannot expect its workers to keep swallowing real terms wage cuts. Unite defends our members’ jobs, pay and conditions to the hilt. Hedin’s workers have their union’s full backing in fighting for a fair pay rise.”
Unite regional officer Lui D’Cunha added: “Mercedes-Benz will not be happy that its brand is being dragged into a dispute over workers facing real terms pay cuts in one of the most expensive cities in the world during a cost-of-living crisis.
“Nor will their customers be pleased that they are facing disruption. There is still time to avoid industrial action, but that will require Hedin putting forward an acceptable pay offer.”
The strike ballot closes on 9 June. Hedin was contacted for comment but told AM none was available at this time
AM Awards 2025 – why the winners were successful
Find out what it was that made the 2025 AM Awards winners impress the judges in this special souvenir report.
Inside, you can read in detail about what made the Best Dealership of the Year so special, why the Land Rover Defender won the Used Car of the Year trophy and how a relatively new business has astounded its brand partners and the AM Awards judges with its success and taken home a number of trophies.
Plus there is much, much more. The 2025 AM Awards report includes photos from the gala dinner in London at the start of this month.
Our annual awards programme always reveals the best in the business, and the gala dinner at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in May was an ideal opportunity to reward companies and individuals for their hard work, innovation and tenacity.
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AM deputy editor Aimée Turner has been a specialist B2B editor and journalist covering the international transportation sector for more than 20 years.
She has specialised in the significant safety, regulatory, and environmental issues that impact advanced technology businesses in the pursuit of more efficient, safer and sustainable transportation modes.
