Owner-driver plans rock Consignia
PLANS to make all drivers at Consignia subsidiary Parcelforce buy their vans and sign personal contracts with the company are set to stretch already tense relations with postal unions at a crucial meeting this week. A secret report for Consignia by PricewaterhouseCoopers says that to slash costs at the loss-making operation, all of its drivers should move to ‘owner- driver’ status. It adds that Parcelforce should concentrate on higher-value business by ending its standard parcel delivery service – passing deliveries it is required to do by law over to the Royal Mail – and that it should franchise out the operation of its 100 delivery offices. The Communication Workers Union is warning that such measures would lead to ballots for industrial action. Terry Pullinger, CWU national officer for parcels, who will attend next week’s meeting, said: ‘We will defend our agreement and our members.’ Consignia declined to comment.
The Guardian
