JCB delivery drivers at DHL call off strike after winning almost 10% wage hike

Delivery drivers at DHL working for JCB have called off a strike after securing an almost 10% pay rise.

The drivers, who deliver JCB parts between factories across the UK, were due to walk out yesterday and today (23 and 24 May).

However, an eleventh hour offer from DHL, of 9.5% plus a £750 bonus was agreed after 80% of the drivers, who are all GMB members, voted in favour of the deal.

Stuart Harrison, GMB organiser, said: “GMB members working for DHL for JCB should be rightly proud of themselves.

“They’ve been under attack for four years – faced changes to their contracts and a whopping pay cut.

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“Now they’re walking away with a big pay rise, a bonus and their heads held high.

“The way they’ve stuck together shows what can be done in workplaces with the basic trade union values of challenging fat cat employers to pay GMB members what they deserve.”

In May this year GMB union claimed DHL was attempting to impose a real terms pay cut on its drivers working on a JCB delivery contract, a claim DHL denied, with the company insisting it had offered an above inflation pay increase.

A spokesperson for DHL Supply Chain said: “We are pleased that a deal has been reached in the current pay negotiations, and the GMB union has called off its planned industrial action at our Stoke transport operation. We now look forward to delivering excellent service for our customer in the years ahead.”