DHL strike looms

Thousands of members of Unite employed by DHL on the JLR logistics contract, will begin being balloted for strike action today (February 12) in a dispute over pay.

 

The workers are based at JLR’s factories at Halewood, Ellesmere Port and Evans Road, in the North West and Castle Bromwich, Solihull, Tyrefort, Midpoint and Hams Halls in the West Midlands. The DHL workforce comprises drivers and warehouse operatives.

 

The ballot is a result of pay negotiations having collapsed, with DHL refusing to make a consolidated pay offer to the workforce and instead simply offering a one off lump sum payment.

 

Unite are seeking a pay increase of 3.8 per cent pay rise. The workers are being balloted about issues with average holiday pay and concerns about subcontracting.

 

Prospects of a settlement have been torpedoed as DHL have refused to enter into talks over a consolidated (permanent) pay offer.

 

The ballot opens today and will close on Friday, February 28. If the workers vote in favour of strike action then walkouts could be scheduled for next month. Over 3,500 members of Unite will be balloted.

 

“Workers at DHL have had enough and are fed up of being treated with complete disregard by the management,” said Unite national officer Matt Draper. “DHL’s failure to even enter into standard pay negotiations is the direct reason why members are being balloted and strikes are looming.

 

“If the workforce does take strike action this will inevitably result in serious disruptions at JLR’s factories in the UK, but it needs to be understood this is entirely of DHL’s own making.

 

“There is still time to prevent strike action from occurring but DHL must first table a realistic pay offer and be prepared to enter into pay negotiations.”