Amazon delivery organisations to face legal action over couriers’ employment status
06 June 2018
Drivers delivering goods for Amazon are to fight for better employment rights, including sick pay, holiday pay and the national minimum wage.
The GMB union announced on Monday that it is taking legal action against Prospect Commercials, Box Group and Lloyd Link on behalf of its members who work as couriers delivering parcels for online retailer Amazon arguing that these companies wrongly classed them as self-employed.
A statement from the union, which represents the professional drivers, said: “The drivers were required to attend scheduled shifts that were controlled by Amazon, meaning they did not have the flexibility that is integral to being self-employed. In this situation, the couriers were treated like employees in terms of their working hours and the GMB union contends they should be treated as employees in terms of their rights too.”
A spokesperson at Amazon said: “Our delivery providers are contractually obligated to ensure drivers they engage receive the national living wage and are expected to pay a minimum of £12 per hour, follow all applicable laws and driving regulations and drive safely. Allegations to the contrary do not represent the great work done by around 100 small businesses generating thousands of work opportunities for delivery drivers across the UK.”