"Yodel drivers begin strike vote, raising fears for UK supply chains" 25 August 2021

Yodel’s lorry drivers are voting whether to go on strike in a move that could worsen the UK’s supply chain crisis.

The GMB union said it had opened a ballot on industrial action...after failing to reach an agreement with Yodel over pay and working conditions affecting the delivery company’s lorry drivers.

The union said staff were angry over issues including a lack of work-life balance, and the fact that agency workers were paid more than drivers directly employed by the company. Workers are also concerned over an alleged lack of payouts in lieu of annual leave and an alleged failure to honour contractual agreements on pay for holiday and sick leave.

GMB added that workers were upset that Yodel had not offered any substantial pay increases that would keep drivers from leaving for better-paying jobs elsewhere, especially at a time when employers across the country are scrambling to hire workers...

...[GMB union's national secretary, Andy] Prendergast said GMB had been trying to settle the dispute for months, but claimed “the Yodel top brass don’t want to listen”...

Yodel said it was disappointed by GMB’s ballot plans and had been “proactive” in conversations with the union for a number of weeks. “We will continue to work with our union colleagues in good faith and are committed to further discussions to resolve any remaining matters,” a Yodel spokesperson said.