The widow of a DPD driver who died months after he was fined for attending hospital has called for a nationwide boycott of the firm by shoppers.
Ruth Lane says online consumers shouldn’t use the controversial multinational courier firm.
She spoke out after we highlighted workers’ complaints as part of our Horrible Bosses campaign.
Ruth’s driver husband Don died in 2018, months after he had been fined £150 by his managers for attending a hospital appointment.
The resulting controversy saw DPD – who deliver on behalf of a number of high-profile retailers including M&S, John Lewis and Amazon – drop its fine policy and bring in a points-based disciplinary system.
In recent weeks, we have revealed fears the new policy, which sees drivers sacked if they reach 21 points in one year, is being used to get rid of workers for other reasons.
Drivers say those include being involved with unions. Last week, we reported on how DPD union member DPD whistleblower 'sacked' after lifting lid on 'illegal hours' culture at parcel firm for speaking out about an “illegal hours” culture at the firm.
DPD bosses probed over claims parcel drivers are forced to work illegal hours
And Ruth said it showed how little things at DPD had changed since her husband’s death.
She said: “All the changes they brought in were just part of a PR exercise after Don’s death.
“Consumers are quite ethically aware nowadays. I’d ask them to consider who they use as couriers.
“It would be great if the public can show support for the DPD drivers – it happened when Don died last year.
“The only real way to ensure companies like DPD make things better for staff is by hitting them in the pocket if they don’t.”
GMB Scotland senior organiser Louise Gilmour said: “The question everyone should be asking is, ‘What kind of economy do we want to have?’
“However, without serious political intervention, the future of employment is sliding towards a dog-eat-dog environment where people are increasingly exploited as opposed to rewarded for their labour.
“This is evident across many industries but it is particularly prevalent in the so-called gig economy and in firms like DPD.
“Left unchallenged, we are swimming against the tide in the fight to make work fair. It falls on all of us to turn that tide and build something better.”
DPD has said its self-employed drivers are free to join unions and it had “made this clear repeatedly”.
DPD whistleblower 'sacked' after lifting lid on 'illegal hours' culture at parcel firm
But a text message showed how Don’s former depot manager in Bournemouth warned staff about joining unions following industrial action at a Scottish depot last year.
In it, manager Matt Poore wrongly claimed self-employed drivers aren’t able to join unions. He also alleged unions are using DPD for their “own agenda”.
The message was sent just weeks after Don’s death. But last night DPD distanced itself from the message.
A spokesman said: “This is an old text. A number of statements in it are incorrect and it does not reflect DPD’s position. This was pointed out to the depot manager by DPD.
“DPD recognises the Unite union for our employed workforce and has done so for over 40 years. We also recognise Unite for our owner driver workers.
“DPD does not recognise a union for its self-employed owner driver franchisees but we have made it clear to our franchisees that they are free to join any union.”
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