Yodel couriers 'on a road to nowhere', says GMB union
The GMB union has hit out at Yodel, claiming that the courier company doesn’t care about its self-employed drivers and has avoided meetings to follow Hermes lead and look at giving them worker status.
Yodel has, it claims, forced said drivers to sign a new contract that keeps them at the company for 28 days or threatens them with no further work and contract termination. Drivers are also expected to find holiday cover and accept changes to pay enforced by the company with just seven days’ notice. Other concerns include verbal and physical abuse from the public towards delivery couriers.
According to the GMB, in some case sub depot lock ups are funded by the couriers and if the driver is off sick, the company does not pay them. Threats of replacement are also common place. The union is also flagging up concerns over health and safety at the sub depots, specifically whether they have toilet facilities, electrical certification and safe working practices.
Steve Garelick, GMB Regional Organiser, says: "Enough is enough. Major companies such as Yodel should be taking the lead, however it seems they would rather profit from workers who have no voice and no real way to question managers’ motives and decisions. Workers are also suffering the added pressures of working long and unsociable hours. Currently couriers are on a road to nowhere."
A Yodel spokesperson told RTIH: “We continue to have productive discussions with the GMB and are disappointed by the announcement from one of its regional representatives, which contains a number of inaccurate statements.”
“Our independent courier contracts have been updated in line with recent legislation, and the termination notice period is extended on both sides to give the operation and our independent couriers greater security. We are pleased to report that the vast majority of courier partners have already accepted and signed the new contracts.”
