UPS could be hit by industrial action in London in the run-up to Christmas in a dispute overalleged “unreasonable” working conditions.
The 120 drivers and loaders at the large Camden depot in north London who are members of theUnite union have voted by 91 per cent to take strike action.
Last-ditch negotiations are due to be held on 20 November, but if these fail, strike actionwill go-ahead before the end of the month, the union warned.
The drivers and loaders are protesting about excessive workloads, forced overtime andbullying. The dispute has now escalated following the suspension of a Unite shop steward afterthe notice of ballot was issued to the employer, Unite said.
Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Our members have sent a message, loud and clear, tothe company that we will take strike action, if our members’ legitimate grievances are notaddressed.” He claimed that the suspension of the Unite representative was “a clear case ofvictimisation”.
“Profits come first. If that is achieved by bullying and stopping our members having a decentwork-life balance with their families, then that is clearly a price that UPS thinks is worthpaying. We will not stand by and allow our members to be treated in this appalling way,” hesaid.
Unite added that its representatives at other UPS in depots across London – Barking, Croydon,Dartford and Feltham – have asked for the union to ballot members on the same issues, while the RMTunion, which also has members at UPS, is also balloting its members for industrial action.
In response, a UPS UK spokesperson said: “UPS can confirm that employees at the UPS LondonCentral Centre in Camden have balloted in favour of industrial action. Negotiations arecurrently on-going with UNITE the Union, and we are hopeful that we can reach a mutuallysatisfactory agreement.
“People are our greatest resource, and UPS works closely with labour unions around theworld. It is UPS’s policy to comply with all laws governing employment and labour practicesworldwide, and UPS is careful to take into account the point-of-view of unions along with theinterests of our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our company as a whole.”
