GMB union threatens ‘miserly’ Yodel with festive industrial action

Parcel carrier Yodel could face industrial action over the Christmas period after the GMB union labelled a pay offer to staff ‘insulting’.

GMB begins strike ballots today for depots in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. An earlier consultative ballot saw 84% of the union’s more than 1,000 Yodel members reject a pay increase of 2% from July this year and 1.5% next year.

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, says: “Yodel has been raking it in during the Covid-19 crisis after online sales soared, but they appear committed to hoarding it.”

“The company’s workforce has been delivering volumes for household names at a level normally only seen at Christmas throughout the year and in the most trying of circumstances. It’s an insult to be presented with such a miserly pay offer,” he adds.

He concludes: “It’s the workforce’s hard graft that has seen Yodel win new business and announce expansion plans, but our members are being presented with a lump of coal rather than a proper pay rise in the run up to Christmas.”

Yodel responds

Mike Hancox, CEO at Yodel, told RTIH: “We value the hard work and the vital role our colleagues play in driving the business forward.”

“We have been in positive discussions with three unions, including the GMB, over the past few weeks and so were surprised to see this latest statement. We are confident that ongoing and future negotiations will reach an acceptable outcome for all parties.”