Workplace Report December 2005

Bargaining news

Massive recruitment campaign pays off for T&G at UPS

Workers at parcel delivery firm UPS have seen immediate results from an organising campaign by the T&G general union, with significant pay increases and the consolidation of bonuses into basic pay.

In what the union describes as a "groundbreaking deal", UPS drivers will move from variable, bonus-based pay arrangements to guaranteed minimum basic rates.

Feeder drivers will receive a minimum hourly rate of £11 per hour, backdated to 1 July, with a further increase to £11.24 next July.

The deal was reached after the T&G made UPS a key target in its national organising drive (see last month's Workplace Report).

"This is the first step in the T&G's strategy for the express parcels sector to achieve minimum standards, dignity and respect," said national secretary Steve Turner.