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Couriers at Royal Mail’s express delivery service have voted to strike, just as the mailing group comes under pressure to repair industrial relations in the run-up to a multi-million pound takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.
Britain’s freelance workers’ union told the Financial Times that 65 members working for Royal Mail’s eCourier unit were preparing to walk away over demands to be recognized as employees, rather than independent contractors. About 94 percent of those participating in the vote voted in favor of the strike, he said.
IWGB warned of disruption to the NHS, adding that its members were responsible for transporting emergency blood transfusions and other same-day medical deliveries for dozens of hospitals, including Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Great Ormond Street. It also counts among its clients major banks and financial institutions, which deliver “confidential documents,” the union said.
The strike at eCourier, which has about 300 couriers, threatens another outbreak in employment relations at Royal Mailwhich acquired the same-day delivery business in 2015.
The former state group last year settled a dispute after some 110,000 postal workers in its core business went on strike over pay and working conditions, disrupting postal services across the country.
Tense relations between management and staff have continued to overshadow Křetínský’s £5.3bn takeover royal mailwhich is awaiting approval from shareholders and the government.
But with the deal nearing completion, the investor remains under pressure to win over staff: the Communication Workers Union of postal workers is threatening to return to the picket line if you do not meet your commitment demands.
The IWGB vote in favor of the strike marks the last dispute between collaborative economy companies and the workers on whom the industry largely depends.
“eCourier workers are fed up with their poverty wages and illegal misclassifications and are demanding decisive and urgent change,” said IWGB president Alex Marshall, accusing eCourier management of choosing “profits over patients.” and the people.”
Ecourier said it was “carefully reviewing” the outcome of the vote and had not received “any complaints or claims from individual drivers that support” the union’s allegations.
The company said the couriers had preferred to remain independent contractors, even though they were offered the option of becoming workers entitled to entitlements such as vacation and sick pay.
IWGB said that the messengers had rejected this offer because they were asked to accept a salary that would have constituted a pay cut.
NHS England said: “If we are notified by Royal Mail that NHS services could be disrupted in an upcoming strike, we will take appropriate action to protect patient safety.”
This article has been amended to update the number of IWGB members planning to strike.