One of the country’s biggest parcel delivery firms has been accused of pulling the plug on a depot when staff threatened to stop working for free.
Hermes has told staff at one of its Ayrshire depots it plans to close the operation next month.
The announcement came weeks after the self-employed drivers asked to be paid for work they had previously done for free at the small site in Auchinleck.
They told the firm they would no longer sort parcels at the plant before delivering them.
The job saw couriers turn up early for work to assist the depot manager in dealing with lorry loads of goods dropped off by Hermes .
However, the drivers are only paid per parcel they deliver, which is typically about 50p to 80p each.
Some say their daily rate falls well below the minimum wage.
The depot – run by independent contractor John Barbour – sees more than 900 parcels delivered to the depot on most days. That figure rises to about 1800 at Christmas.
All 11 drivers who work there, as well as depot boss Barbour, have said their jobs are in jeopardy following Hermes’ decision.
Almost all are members of the GMB union .
Jeremy Murphy, 41, said: “Everything was fine when we were doing the work for free. But it wasn’t on. I broke my toe doing the sort in the depot and thankfully it wasn’t a serious injury. But if it was, I’d be forced to go off with no pay. I get no sick pay or other rights as a self-employed driver.
“The whole operation was only happening because of us working for free.”
The Auchinleck drivers spoke out in response to our campaign to shame Scotland’s horrible bosses, launched to expose mistreatment of staff by rich firms.
Jeremy said: “The drivers were helping to ensure they got the parcels out to deliver. I couldn’t cope.
“In February, they wrote to Hermes to tell them they would no longer work for free.
“At the same time, I asked to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. By March, Hermes’ immediate reaction was to shut us down. It’s outrageous.”
Hermes claims shutting the depot will see the drivers get parcels dropped off at their homes. But the couriers claim the measure is designed to force them out the door.
Jeremy added: “Delivering to our doors, which are spread over a vast part of rural Ayrshire, will not be economically viable for Hermes or us. It’ll see some of us given parcels much later in the day.
“Some will have to quit. That’s what we think Hermes is trying to do.”
The firm delivers on behalf of some of the UK’s biggest retailers, including Next, John Lewis and Sports Direct.
Cal Waterson, of the GMB, said: “The union and Hermes are in the early process of establishing a ground-breaking recognition agreement.
“Understandably, there have been initial communication problems which we’re addressing and which will hopefully ensure problems like those experienced at Auchinleck sub depot will not be repeated.”
Hermes said: “The decision to withdraw from this sub depot has been made for reasons of efficiency.
“We’ve reassured all couriers their contracts will continue and we value the work they undertake for us.
“This sub depot was leased and operated by an independent contractor who was responsible for paying those who helped him under the terms of his Hermes agreement.”
