Crisis Talks Today Following Strike Threat At DHL

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Date / 11 August 2005

Last week’s 89% vote in favour of strike action by members of the GMB trade union work at DHL Express has brought DHL to the negotiating table. DHL and GMB negotiators meet today at Orbital Park Hatton Cross Heathrow at 12.30 p.m.

This meeting comes as the GMB’s main DHL activists and negotiators are planning industrial action in the run up to DHL’s busy time of the year in the run up to the Christmas period.

THE GMB’s negotiating agenda consists of:

This year’s pay claim if the main agenda item. An unacceptable 3% pay offer was rejected by the members.
An increase in the overtime rate, sick pay, pensions, shorter working day. Hygiene and health and safety issues feature prominently in the issues of concern to GMB members.
The complete lack of canteen and basic welfare facilities, in spite of the 24/7 nature of the work of the depots.
The lack of basic hygiene and welfare facilities at some depots.
The lowering of franchise rates by 5% for self employed drivers and their complete loss of earnings when on holiday or during periods of sickness.
The GMB members are based in 140 depots across Great Britain. DHL have depots at the following locations: Aberdeen, Basildon, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Chessington, Croydon, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Flint, Gatwick, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Guernsey, Harlow, Heathrow, Hemel Hempstead, Inverness, Ipswich, Isle of Man, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, London(City of London, Docklands, London North West, Vauxhall), Londonderry, Maidstone, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Northampton, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke on Trent, Swindon, Teesside, Telford, Tewkesbury. For the addresses of these locations, check the website: www.dhl.co.uk

Mick Rix, GMB National Executive Officer, said: “I am pleased that DHL have offered to meet and talk about the many problems GMB members have at DHL depots across the country. We have time to settle the outstanding issues in a manner that will build on our joint relationship many years to come. GMB members are expecting great things from this landmark meeting.”