DPD drivers call off action over pay, says firm

DPD drivers call off action over pay, says firm

DPD, a delivery firm, has announced that drivers who had chosen not to work on Tuesday due to a pay dispute will be returning to work. The company stated that an agreement regarding the way forward has been reached, although it did not confirm whether the plan to cut pay for small package deliveries has been postponed. There has been no further comment from DPD on the matter when approached by the BBC.

Initially, there were concerns that the delivery service could face disruptions after some drivers initiated three days of action. DPD had previously mentioned that they did not anticipate the stoppage to severely impact their services, emphasizing that they had raised the pay rates for larger parcel deliveries. However, a group of drivers had refused to work for three days following DPD’s announcement of reducing pay by 65p for small parcel deliveries.

It was indicated that the decreased rate was aimed at those who are self-employed or franchised, representing the majority of DPD drivers. The protest organized by drivers had significant participation, with approximately 1,300 to 1,500 members across various chat groups. Drivers expressed discontent about the short notice given before the pay changes took effect at the end of September.

DPD defended their decision by stating that adjustments in rates were necessary due to changes in parcel traffic. The company clarified that only stops with smaller parcels would face a reduction of 65p, while stops containing larger or high-value parcels would remain unchanged. Additionally, DPD mentioned the introduction of new incentive payments aimed at increasing earnings throughout the year. Despite these explanations, drivers voiced concerns about the impact of the pay cuts on their daily income, making it challenging for them to cover their household expenses

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