DHL BLASTED FOR ‘INADEQUATE’ SAFETY MEASURES AND SICK PAY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may bulletin 2 2020 :: RMTnews 6 RMT has expressed dismay at revelations that rail and bus owner FirstGroup is taking steps to maximise pay outs to shareholders and will also profit from the Coronavirus pandemic. It was announced in April that FirstGroup was set to benefit from millions in taxpayers’ cash to prop up its bus business on top of being bailed out by the government on its rail operations, including a new direct award contract for the Great Western Route. FirstGroup shares were up by 3.86 per cent on the back of the announcement. Whilst even the big four high street banks have said that they will not be paying dividends this year, extraordinary comments by FirstGroup bosses at a recent “Investors’ conference call” indicate that the company remains laser-focused on paying out to shareholders, despite the current health pandemic. The call, which was held on March 11, the day that the eighth British citizen died of Coronavirus and 460 cases were confirmed, included discussion of how the pandemic would affect the company. FirstGroup Chair David Martin told investors that: “At the moment, in my experience, this is one of the most exciting times, with potentially real deliverables there and money standing behind it.” “We are all in violent agreement, is the only thing I can say. Everybody is on the same page in the one direction of maximising shareholder value and providing the ability to create substantial returns to shareholders in the short term, or within the second half of this year. That's our plan of action, we’re extremely robust about it, and we're looking forward to moving forward.” RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that FirstGroup executives were crowing over shareholders’ payouts for this year, all ultimately courtesy of the tax payer. “This is appalling stuff even by the standards of the privatised rail and bus industry. In the midst of the worst crisis this country has faced since the Second World War even the banks are saying they won’t pay dividends. “While rail and bus workers are putting their lives on the line to keep Britain moving FirstGroup are looking to line their pockets. Transport workers and the public will be disgusted and dismayed. This kind of behaviour shames Britain and makes the case for a new, publicly owned transport system even stronger. “In the meantime, First Group should do the decent thing and immediately rescind their decision to pay out dividends this year,” he said. L ogistics unions have blasted DHL for ‘endangering thousands’ with ‘inadequate’ cor onavirus social distancing and safety measures and by forcing self-isolating workers to survive on statutory sick pay (SSP). Unite, GMB, USDAW, RMT and URTU trade unions called on DHL, which employs around 41,000 people in the UK, to work with them to resolve its workforce’s concerns over Covid19 safety and the rate of pay for staff who are self- isolating or have been furloughed. The unions said DHL’s refusal to acknowledge ‘urgent concerns’ over a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the possibility that symptomatic and at-risk staff may stay at work because of the dramatic drop in their incomes on SSP, showed an ‘utter disdain’ for its workforce. The joint trade unions statement said: “DHL is one of the largest and wealthiest logistics companies in the world and during the Covid19 pandemic should be leading by example. “Instead the company is showing utter disdain for its workforce by disregarding the urgent concerns of its staff over a lack of PPE and a failure to carry out safety and social distancing measures across its operations. “DHL’s refusal to grant full company sick pay to symptomatic workers who need to self-isolate, or to those with underlying health conditions, is also a huge cause of concern. “There is a real danger that staff who should not be leaving the house will continue to go to work because they cannot afford to pay their bills on the basic SSP rate of £95.85 a week. All DHL staff should be entitled to full company sick pay if they are forced to self- isolate. “A company that is worth tens of billions should also be topping up the wages of those staff who have been furloughed, instead of simply taking advantage of the government’s job retention scheme. “DHL’s inadequate response to the pandemic is endangering thousands. We call on the company to meaningfully negotiate with the joint trade unions to address the concerns of its loyal workforce, many of whom are exposing themselves to risk to ensure essential services keep running.” DHL BLASTED FOR ‘INADEQUATE’ SAFETY FIRSTGROUP PLANS TO “MAXIMISE SUBSTANTIAL RETURNS TO SHAREHOLDERS”