Union fights DX over Black Country workers' rights
The GMB union has launched proceedings against delivery company DX on behalf of six workers – including staff from the Black Country.
It is another legal case being brought on behalf of workers in the so-called 'gig' economy who say they are being denied their rights.
DX drivers are currently viewed as self-employed contractors by DX, meaning they are denied basic rights such as holiday pay and national minimum wage, said the GMB.
The union says 'at least one' of the half-dozen workers involved in the case is based at the major DX hub at Ashmore Lake Way in Willenhall, where around 550 people work. The company has 43 sites nationwide.
DX recently dropped its attempts to create a new hub at Essington, to replace its Willenhall sites, following opposition from local people.
National officer Justin Bowden said: "It is high time that gig economy employers like DX stepped up to their responsibilities for those who put in the hours for them.
"GMB will continue to challenge this shameful practice wherever we can.
"Multimillion-pound employers need to realise that they cannot continue to avoid basic workers' rights."
The new case comes on the back of the union's success in a case against Uber last year.
The company maintained that its drivers were self-employed contractors rather than permanent employees, but an employment tribunal in London disagreed.
The DX claims are being brought by law firm Leigh Day, on whose behalf Michael Newman said: "We believe gig economy employers such as DX are trying to avoid their legal responsibilities by dressing up relations with their workers as self-employment." Bosses at DX have yet to comment on the matter.
