Yodel Bellshill workers revolt over sacking of union rep

GMB Scotland is now moving to ballot for industrial action at the troubled Bellshill depot, which only narrowly avoided strike action last over pay and conditions.

Now the union is raising health and safety concerns with management alongside criticism of the move to sack driver and GMB rep Michael Hawthorne.

Yodel, however, said the health and safety of its employees is of “utmost importance” and said it is working with the union to address concerns.

Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland Secretary said: “GMB members working out of the Yodel Belshill depot are being balloted for industrial action over appalling health and safety practices of “smash and grab” when vehicles arrive at the depot to load.

“GMB have been warning the company for some time that this culture must stop only for it to fall on deaf ears.

“Sadly, this has now come home to roost with the dismissal of a popular shop steward who has been constantly challenging the company over unsafe working practices and who fell victim when found himself caught up in a verbal altercation with another driver when attempting to load.”

Michael was let go on December 17 last year following what he described to the Glasgow Times as a verbal altercation over a self-employed driver he believed to have been driving dangerously.

The incident happened in the Bellshill yard at the start of November and, when a complaint was raised about Michael’s conduct, he was suspended at the end of November.

Michael is the GMB’s health and safety representative on site and an outspoken shop steward with an unblemished 21 year record.

It is understood that the self-employed driver is the partner of the Yodel Bellshill depot’s manager.

The incident follows a series of events that prompted GMB Scotland to call in the Health & Ssafety Executive last year.

The union claims there was a large increase in the volume of parcels processed through the yard with Yodel making increased use of agency and self-employed drivers to meet demand.

These drivers are paid by the parcel and, the union says, tensions are created between the drivers and the loaders and directly employed staff as they try to load vans as quickly as possible.

In response GMB Scotland has called notice and will ballot for strike action among the Bellshill-based LGV drivers next week.

If successful they will take strike action in the first week in March.

They are also launching a campaign against what they describe as the “victimisation” of Michael, who told this paper he would take his job back “in a heartbeat”.

STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer will also be writing to Yodel.

John Slaven GMB Organiser said: “The sacking of the GMB rep is victimisation against someone prepared to stand up to Yodel and defend GMB members.

“We are confident that the GMB members in Yodel will respond and that the Scottish Trade Union Movement will support GMB’s campaign around Fair Work in Yodel.”

Last year the Glasgow Times told how strike action at Yodel was called off following a pay agreement to see hourly pay rise by nearly 20%.

Industrial action had been threatened when Yodel workers discovered agency staff were offered hourly rates in excess of existing permanent staff.

As strike action became imminent, both parties agreed to go to the mediation body ACAS to hash out a deal.

A Yodel spokesperson said: “The welfare of our colleagues is of the utmost importance and we have comprehensive, industry-leading protocols in place to ensure the safety of employees across the country.

“We are in proactive conversations with the GMB and do not comment specific, confidential cases of existing or past employees.”