Unite has confirmed that union members at UPS’s Luton depot will hold a demonstration next week, following a number of similar demonstrations throughout July and August.

The long-running dispute over claims of unreasonable workloads by the union continued with a demonstration at its Croydon depot last week. Similar events have been held at its Feltham site and Camden depot, where the dispute originated last year.

Unite’s regional officer Onay Kasab said the union will hold another demonstration at UPS’s Luton site on Wednesday 27 August, following a “fantastic response” from the prior three events. The union is also preparing for a national ballot for industrial action.

“The single biggest question was not ‘should we strike’ but ‘when will be on strike’,” said Kasab.

The dispute began in October 2013 when the union claimed that 120 drivers and loaders at UPS’s Camden depot were being forced to handle unreasonable workloads. A strike subsequently took place at the depot for one day in November.

A UPS spokeswoman said: "Discussions with Uniteare on-going, and we remain hopeful that a mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. People are our greatest resource, and UPS works closely with labour unions around the world.  It is UPS’s policy to comply with all laws governing employment and labour practices worldwide, and UPS is careful to take into account the point-of-view of unions along with the interests of our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our company as a whole.”

Topics