Strike threat at JLR plants over pay row

Thousands of members of the Unite union employed by DHL on a JLR logistics contract have begun being balloted for strike action 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 Hall in the West Midlands. The DHL workforce comprises drivers and warehouse operatives.

The union says a ballot is a result of pay negotiations having “collapsed”, and claims that DHL is refusing to make a consolidated pay offer to the workforce and instead offering a one off lump sum payment.

Unite are seeking a pay increase of 3.8% pay rise. The workers are being balloted about issues with average holiday pay and concerns about subcontracting.

The union says prospects of a settlement have been “torpedoed” as DHL have refused to enter into talks over a permanent pay offer.

The ballot opens today and will close on Friday 28 February. If the workers vote in favour of strike action then walkouts could be scheduled for next month. Over 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.”