Taxi Driver Online

Drivers delivering Amazon parcels win legal battle which keeps 'Draconian working conditions' secret but could help 15,000 claim back pay

Drivers delivering Amazon ­parcels secured a victory that could pave the way for up to 15,000 others to claim back cash, unions say. Logistics firm UK Express reached an out-of-court settlement with four former drivers which meant details of ­“Draconian working conditions” were not aired in public.

UK Express was said to have “caved in” in the face of evidence that drivers were mistreated and wrongly described as self-employed – which the firm denies. Between them the four received a settlement totalling nearly £80,000 – more than their lawyers had sought – with both parties sworn to silence.

Now the Sunday Mirror can reveal that hundreds of other drivers across Britain are contacting lawyers to launch claims of their own, a move that could see companies shelling out huge sums. Maria Ludkin, legal director of the GMB union, said: “In the face of the evidence that UK Express were going to lose at the tribunal they decided to settle. “They actually settled at a level that was so high our drivers had to accept.”

Ms Ludkin added that her union would now be asking UK Express “to get round the table” and thrash out a resolution or face a new wave of legal action. She added: “In excess of 200 drivers have been in touch with us just from UK Express, and 100 from other companies. “I think there are between 10,000 and 15,000 drivers delivering for Amazon who this affects. There has been a move to this model of delivering packages for Amazon which is a race to the bottom.”

Sunday Mirror investigators found claims of drivers at other firms having to deliver nearly 200 parcels a day, being fined for not meeting schedules and being left out of pocket by deductions. UK Express insisted it had “always treated its contractors fairly” and disputed the union’s version of the settlement. It said: “The GMB were not a party to this case and its statements are misleading, inaccurate and do not reflect the true facts.”

Amazon said it was “not involved in the employment tribunal claim by individuals against UK Express”.

TWO drivers who worked for a sub-contractor in Washington, US are suing Amazon claiming they were “ultimately” controlled by the internet giant. Amazon is one of the most modern firms yet its working conditions are from Victorian times. It seems to treats its staff like machines by reportedly using new technology to time their toilet breaks and monitor their every move.

Such management tactics create a climate of fear and steal the dignity of people barely on the minimum wage. They work incredibly long hours and often walk more than 10 miles in a single shift. Such conditions make staff sick with stress and exhaustion. The Sunday Mirror revealed workers are collapsing on the job because of near-impossible targets.

I’d like to see how Amazon’s billionaire boss Jeff Bezos would cope with processing 300 items an hour, for hour after relentless hour. As Amazon refuses to recognise a union its staff have no voice or power to change things. So we’ve got a simple request. If Amazon bosses really care about creating a “positive working environment”, as they repeatedly claim in press statements, why don’t they sit down with the GMB, the union for Amazon workers, and work out a fair deal for staff?

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IDFIMH

this result of course applies to all PH Drivers and many hack drivers working under similar bogus self employed arrangements Sacha on here for sure will be owed years of back pay for holiday pay and much more, no doubt Grandad will be shi^^ing himself for his drivers will be owed bundles HO HO.

join your Union cop £20000 well they did why not you ????????????????

As for Amazon i would never use thew cnuts

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

You are wrong. I have offered the drivers who work with us the opportunity to become employees if they want, That is proper wmployees, not workers under the direction of the company and not one of them wants to do it. You seem to forget that the drivers that work with us earn a good wage and they are more concerned that if they become employees they will earn less even though I have assured them that the overall package would see them no worse off. I do have some part time employed drivers already.

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Grandad,

your ignorance of employment law is astounding dont you realise that you are "aiding and abetting" a fraudulent practice

A typical TORY [edited by admin]

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

The employment status of the people who drive our cars has been checked and aproved by HMCR. They don't have to do any of our work. they are free to obtain work for themselves, work the hours the choose and don't pay us any commission. If they choose to take work from our system they do not pay us any fee or commission.

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Grandad,

Trotsky I think you are blind to the real truth sooner or later the powers that be will issue a legal definition of a gig economy worker and i doubt they will be as entitled as you think

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Yeh right thats why UK Express paid out £80000 to 4 drivers thanks to the GMB and there hundreds more in the pipeline

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Just take a look at what the law actually says, and, love them or hate them, the EU employment laws.

The UK has a history of selectively ignoring EU laws. for example, the hated Driver CPC for bus and lorry drivers, the UK enforces it rigorously, holland and a few other countries pay lip service. Section 19 minibuses being driven by non-PSV drivers, UK ignores completely. Self-employed workers, ignores completely. The UK was only dragged screaming and kicking into giving employees statutory holiday as late as 2008 IIRC. Until then there was no legal right for ANY employee to paid annual leave unless it was in their contract of employment (except bank holidays). My old employer British Railways paid 3 weeks annual leave, but if you got dismissed or left before a year end then you forfeited any accrued annual leave entitlement. Thanks to the EU law that all changed and all employees now get accrued annual leave.

In my current part-time employment in a zero hours job I get an amount for annual leave on a weekly basis. It's the law.