DHL workers at JLR plants prepare for strike ballot
Vote called for over wage arrears and 'insulting' pay offer
Reading time: 3 min
Hundreds of DHL drivers and warehouse operatives have been plagued by incorrect pay slips for months due to the company’s use of flexible furlough, with some staff owed up to £800 in arrears.
Anger at the arrears ‘debacle’ has been further stoked by DHL’s refusal to offer a reasonable rise during recent pay negotiations with Unite.
The union will now begin the process of balloting its more than 2,000 DHL members for strike action at JLR’s plants in Halewood, Castle Bromwich, Solihull, Tyrefort, Midpoint and Hams Hall.
Unite national officer Matt Draper said, “If our members had performed their duties in the same manner as DHL has handled the issue of flexible furlough pay, they would have been sacked.
“DHL are the biggest logistics company in the world, yet they cannot get people’s pay right. It is pitiful that a company this size has a pay roll department that is currently not fit for purpose.
“The whole thing is a debacle and the workforce is rapidly losing patience that the pay issues have still not been sorted out. It is outrageous that some staff are owed nearly £1,000 in back pay.
“Adding insult to injury, DHL has come back with a completely insulting pay offer for its hard working and loyal Solihull staff. This is despite the company reporting record breaking profits of €1.3 billion for the first half of this year.
“If it wants to avoid serious industrial unrest, DHL needs to pay the wages it owes, as well as putting forward a pay offer that isn’t a slap in the face for an already disgruntled workforce.”
By Ryan Fletcher
