{"id":11146,"date":"2017-01-19T16:40:22","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T16:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=11146"},"modified":"2017-01-20T16:01:21","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T16:01:21","slug":"drivers-pay-docked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=11146","title":{"rendered":"Driver’s pay docked"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Car drivers, who use Morrisons\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 supermarket petrol stations in London, the South East and East Anglia, face the possibility of shortages, if a dispute over a driver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0098docked\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00c2\u01415,200 pay leads to industrial action next month.<\/p>\n

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A total of 19 drivers, employed by DHL Supply Chain and based in West Thurrock, who deliver petrol and diesel to 55 petrol stations at Morrisons supermarkets across the region, are currently being balloted for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.<\/p>\n

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Unite, which represents the drivers, estimates that stores will only have one day\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stock, so will run \u00e2\u20ac\u0098dry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 very quickly, if the dispute last more than a few days.<\/p>\n

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The dispute centres on a driver who had his wages \u00e2\u20ac\u0098docked\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 over seven months to the tune of \u00c2\u01415,200, after he was involved in an accident, which the union says was not his fault and that the bosses\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 reaction was \u00e2\u20ac\u0098grossly unfair\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

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Unite is due to hold \u00e2\u20ac\u0098make-or-break\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 talks with the management tomorrow (January 20). The ballot closes on Friday, January 27 and industrial action, threatening petrol deliveries could start from Saturday, February 4.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur members have shown patience and common sense, yet DHL management consistently refuses to do the same and recognise the grossly unfair treatment that it has meted out to our member, which has resulted in him suffering loss of earnings of about \u00c2\u01415,200,” said Unite regional officer Paul Travers.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe failure of management to follow agreed procedures is also of concern to the union and its members on health & safety grounds.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe ballot for industrial action closes on January 27 which means that Morrisons\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 petrol stations could be running low on fuel from February 4 onwards. We estimate that stores will only have one day\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stock so will run \u00e2\u20ac\u0098dry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 very quickly, if the dispute runs over a few days.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bMotorists, customers of Morrisons, seeking fuel could be seriously affected,” he added.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur member was involved in an incident when a driver cut in front of him as he was travelling along a major road and he was forced to break extremely sharply, in doing so he seriously injured his back.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bHis forward facing camera activated and should have recorded the incident,” Travers explained. “The management was made aware, but failed to download the recording which is the agreed procedure. Yet DHL continues to act as if there has been no wrongdoing by them.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite has supported our member through the grievance procedure, despite DHL admitting it failed to follow procedure and download the footage.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt has refused to pay our member\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s loss of earnings which is the agreed procedure when involved in non-blameworthy accidents,” he went on to say. “Unless the company offers restitution, it looks very likely there will be a strong vote in favour of industrial action.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe loss of earnings was due to the driver only being paid 80 per cent of wages for five months, then two-and-a half months on 40 per cent pay. This equates to about \u00c2\u01415,200.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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