Louise Haigh has heavily criticised the delivery firm over its treatment of the workers after it told self-employed drivers it was cutting their delivery rates
Labour must back the delivery workers who were sacked for speaking out over DPD’s plans to slash pay, a former Cabinet minister has said.
Louise Haigh has heavily criticised the delivery firm over its treatment of the workers after it told self-employed drivers it was cutting their delivery rates.
The drivers claimed the move would cost them about £6,000 each per year – or up to £8,000 for those taking on extra deliveries at Christmas. Now Ms Haigh, the former Transport Secretary, has called for the Government to oppose the exploitation of workers.
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She told The Guardian: “This is pretty despicable behaviour from DPD management. Punishing vulnerable workers for standing up for their agreed terms and conditions should be illegal.
“[The] Labour government needs to make sure they are standing on the side of the powerless against such exploitative practices”.
Many drivers refused to carry out deliveries for three days in protest, and now DPD has sacked drivers for having spoken out about the way it was treating them.
Dean Hawkins, who acted as a spokesperson for the DPD drivers, said: “The government should be doing more to support workers in our position.
“You’ve got to remember: it was only a few short years ago that delivery drivers were keeping the country and businesses running during the pandemic.”
Labour peer Peter Hendy has called for further changes to the Employment Rights Bill to protect drivers such as those fired by DPD.
He said: “The protection against dismissal or detriment for trade union activities only applies to the activities of an independent trade union,” he said, adding that the drivers might not enjoy such a status.
“Penalising workers for making representations against detrimental changes to their terms and conditions is, quite simply, outrageous. It should be unlawful.”
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “Every company should treat the people who work for them with respect and fulfil their obligations as a responsible employer. We don’t comment on individual cases.”
DPD has not responded to a request for comment.