Gloucester braced for parcel delays as UPS workers announce strike action
- Tuesday 20 July 2021
The city of Gloucester is braced for a summer of delays and disruption to parcel deliveries after workers at the local depot of UPS announced strike action in a long running dispute over bullying, health and safety and dignity at work.
18 months of problems
The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have been trying to resolve the issues in the workplace at Gloucester Business Park, Hurricane Road, for 18 months without success and have been left with no option but to ballot for strike action.
Over 50 members of staff were balloted and members recorded a 100 per cent vote in favour of strike action.
Strike this month
The first strike, which will last for 24 hours, will begin on Friday 30 July. This will be followed by a week-long strike from Monday 2 August until Friday 6 August. There will then be further 24-hour strike actions on 9, 27, 31 August.
Strike dates have also been announced for September with a three-day strike beginning on 1 September and a 24-hour strike on 6 September.
Health and safety fears
In addition to members raising concerns about health and safety at the workplace, Unite understands that the Health and Safety Executive is also actively investigating safety breaches at the company’s premises.
Bullying must end
Unite national officer for logistics Matt Draper said: “Our members have been trying to resolve these issues for 18 months without success.
“No one should have to come to work under the fear of being bullied or enter a workplace that is not safe.
“Sadly UPS has consistently failed to address our members concerns and as a result workers are taking strike action as a last resort to finally get these matters resolved.
“Strike action will cause huge disruption and delays to the parcel service in Gloucester and the surrounding areas, not just on the days of the strikes but throughout the summer.
“There is still time for this dispute to be resolved but UPS needs to come forward with meaningful proposals to resolve the problems that our members are facing in the workplace.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 020 3371 2067 or 07802 329235.
Email: [email protected]
Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.