Royal Mail-owned courier service faces tribunal over drivers' rights claims.
Dozens of drivers working for eCourier, a Royal Mail-owned delivery company, are taking their employers to court in a bid to claim workers' rights they believe they are entitled to. The 46 drivers, who operate around the clock delivering vital medical supplies to NHS hospitals, argue that they were incorrectly classified as self-employed despite exhibiting characteristics of worker status.
According to the drivers, eCourier exercises significant control over their work, including job allocation and availability expectations, which is inconsistent with genuine self-employment. They also pay their own vehicle rental, fuel, and taxes, making it difficult for them to make ends meet, especially during periods of low demand.
The drivers' law firm, Leigh Day, has successfully brought similar cases on behalf of Uber drivers, who were recently ruled by the Supreme Court to be workers rather than self-employed contractors. If found in favor of eCourier's drivers, they will be entitled to holiday pay and national minimum wage after deductions.
Critics argue that the government has failed to address the injustice faced by gig economy workers, with companies like eCourier able to opt out of basic workers' rights. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain has backed the drivers' claims, stating that the gig economy remains "wide open for business" as long as employers continue to deny their workforce fair pay and protections.
eCourier disputes this, arguing that it already offers couriers the option to work as either employees or self-employed contractors, with most choosing the latter. However, the company's spokesperson refused to comment on ongoing litigation matters, leaving the outcome of the tribunal case uncertain.
Dozens of drivers working for eCourier, a Royal Mail-owned delivery company, are taking their employers to court in a bid to claim workers' rights they believe they are entitled to. The 46 drivers, who operate around the clock delivering vital medical supplies to NHS hospitals, argue that they were incorrectly classified as self-employed despite exhibiting characteristics of worker status.
According to the drivers, eCourier exercises significant control over their work, including job allocation and availability expectations, which is inconsistent with genuine self-employment. They also pay their own vehicle rental, fuel, and taxes, making it difficult for them to make ends meet, especially during periods of low demand.
The drivers' law firm, Leigh Day, has successfully brought similar cases on behalf of Uber drivers, who were recently ruled by the Supreme Court to be workers rather than self-employed contractors. If found in favor of eCourier's drivers, they will be entitled to holiday pay and national minimum wage after deductions.
Critics argue that the government has failed to address the injustice faced by gig economy workers, with companies like eCourier able to opt out of basic workers' rights. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain has backed the drivers' claims, stating that the gig economy remains "wide open for business" as long as employers continue to deny their workforce fair pay and protections.
eCourier disputes this, arguing that it already offers couriers the option to work as either employees or self-employed contractors, with most choosing the latter. However, the company's spokesperson refused to comment on ongoing litigation matters, leaving the outcome of the tribunal case uncertain.
. but did u know that in 2023, UK had 6.8m self-employed workers? 
and most of them earn < £25k per year 
. that's crazy! 
it's pretty wild. here are some stats:
. that's a big deal! 
. eCourier can keep saying they offer a choice between employee or self-employment status, but at the end of the day, control is control, and if you're dictating job allocation and availability, that's not genuine self-employment in my book 
. And let's be real, paying your own vehicle rental, fuel, and taxes is basically an IOU to your employer - it's just a fancy way of saying "we'll take all the money from you and give you crumbs".
, can't believe companies like eCourier think they can just exploit their drivers and get away with it. I mean, come on, 46 drivers taking them to court? That's a whole lotta people! And for what? So they can get the basic rights they're entitled to? It's about time someone stood up for those hardworking couriers 
. I feel bad for them having to deal with all that stress and uncertainty. And what's with the government not doing anything about it? They're just sitting back, letting companies like eCourier get away with this? Not cool 
.
, working hard day and night delivering crucial supplies to hospitals and still struggling to make ends meet. It's not right that they're being treated as self-employed just because they use their own vehicles - it's like they're being asked to work for peanuts with no safety net 
The fact that eCourier is trying to claim they're self-employed just because the drivers are in control of their own vehicles is ridiculous 
. I've seen so many gig economy workers struggle to make ends meet, it's like the government is just letting companies take advantage of them 
. But until then, it's just more proof that some companies are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid paying their employees properly 
. Like, if Uber drivers can be classified as workers, why can't these guys? It's not like they're asking for the moon here. They just want a bit of holiday pay and some basic protections, which is what most people get in a normal job.
. It's time for eCourier to step up and be more transparent about its workers' rights... or face the music in court! 
Anyway, drivers being treated like self-employed contractors is just weird considering how much control eCourier has over their work schedule and stuff. It's not like they're out there on the open road all by themselves with no one to answer to...oh wait, that's exactly what's happening 
! Companies like eCourier are basically taking advantage of these drivers' vulnerabilities and exploiting them for profit. I mean, come on, they're not exactly setting their own hours or choosing their own work - they've got a schedule to keep and orders to fill, just like any other employee. And don't even get me started on the "flexible" nature of gig economy jobs - it's all about creating uncertainty so you'll stay on as a contractor, rather than pushing for proper workers' rights.
. Opt-out clauses, misclassifying workers... it's like they're trying to outsmart our laws and regulations just to save a few quid. Meanwhile, these drivers are struggling to make ends meet and get basic protections - it's not fair, and it needs to change. We need tougher regulations on companies like eCourier to ensure they treat their workers with the respect and dignity they deserve