"DPD, which reported pre-tax profits of nearly 200m last year and raised the pay of its highest-paid director by 90,000 to 1.5m including bonuses, told self-employed drivers it was unilaterally cutting their delivery rates. The drivers said the move would cost them about 6,000 each per year or up to 8,000 for those who take on extra deliveries at Christmas."
"Scores refused to carry out deliveries for the firm for three days in response. While DPD partially backed down after a meeting with workers' representatives on day one, the drivers returned to work. But it was only a temporary reprieve, with the firm vowing to go ahead with the rate-cuts in the new year. After that meeting, DPD sacked drivers for having spoken out about the way it was treating them."
"This is pretty despicable behaviour from DPD management. Punishing vulnerable workers for standing up for their agreed terms and conditions should be illegal, the former transport secretary said. She added that the Labour government needs to make sure they are standing on the side of the powerless against such exploitative practices. Labour have put improving the lot of workers including protecting them from unfair treatment at the heart of its plans in government."
Delivery drivers who worked for DPD were dismissed after speaking out about unilateral reductions to self-employed delivery rates that would cut around £6,000 per year, rising to about £8,000 for those taking extra Christmas deliveries. DPD reported nearly £200m in pre-tax profits and increased its highest-paid director's pay to £1.5m including bonuses. Drivers staged a three-day refusal to deliver; DPD partially backtracked but later vowed to implement the cuts and dismissed drivers who had spoken out. Calls were made for government protection of vulnerable workers and stronger employment rights enforcement.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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