Threat to production at JLR plants as DHL workers vote on strike action

Production at Jaguar Land Rover’s Merseyside and Midlands plants could be disrupted by strike action among logistics workers in warehouse operations at the luxury car maker.

Thousands of members of Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, employed by DHL on the JLR logistics contract, will begin being balloted for strike action today (February 12) in a dispute over pay.

The workers are based at JLR’s factories at Halewood, Ellesmere Port and Evans Road, in the North West, and Castle Bromwich, Solihull, Tyrefort, Midpoint and Hams Halls in the West Midlands.

The DHL workforce comprises drivers and warehouse operatives.

The ballot is a result of pay negotiations having collapsed, with DHL refusing to make a consolidated pay offer to the workforce and instead simply offering a one-off lump sum payment, said the union.

Unite is seeking a pay increase of 3.8 per cent pay. The workers are being balloted about issues with average holiday pay and concerns about sub-contracting.

Prospects of a settlement have been torpedoed as DHL have refused to enter into talks over a consolidated (permanent) pay offer, the union claimed.

The ballot opens today and will close on Friday, February 28.

If the workers vote in favour of strike action, walkouts could be scheduled for next month.

More than 3,500 members of Unite will be balloted.

Unite national officer, Matt Draper, said: “Workers at DHL have had enough and are fed up of being treated with complete disregard by the management.

“DHL’s failure to even enter into standard pay negotiations is the direct reason why members are being balloted and strikes are looming.

“If the workforce does take strike action this will inevitably result in serious disruptions at JLR’s factories in the UK, but it needs to be understood this is entirely of DHL’s own making.

“There is still time to prevent strike action from occurring, but DHL must first table a realistic pay offer and be prepared to enter into pay negotiations.”

JLR has been contacted for comment.