Argos, Aldi and Marks & Spencer shoppers face parcel delays due to strike action

Hundreds of drivers at delivery giant Yodel have voted to strike in a dispute over pay and working conditions – in a move that could affect thousands of online orders

Yodel is facing a walk-out after 250 of its drivers voted for industrial action over pay and working conditions, potentially adding to disruption caused by a national shortage of lorry drivers.

If it goes ahead, the strikes could affect deliveries for Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Very from Yodel’s depots in Hatfield in Hertforshire, Glasgow and Wednesbury in the West Midlands.

The GMB said Yodel’s drivers are in dispute with the firm over a lack of work-life balance, the fact that agency workers were paid more than drivers directly employed by the company and an alleged failure to honour contractual agreements on pay for holiday and sick leave.

The union accused Yodel of “dragging its heels” on substantial pay increases that would keep drivers from leaving amid a national shortage of 100,000 drivers.

Nadine Houghton, a GMB national officer, said: “GMB drivers working for Yodel have returned a massive vote in favour of taking industrial action over pay and working conditions.

“With acute labour shortages across a range of sectors the time for working people to organise and take action to improve their lot is now.”

A Yodel spokesperson said: “We are in ongoing, meaningful talks with GMB officials with a further meeting scheduled for next week. We remain committed to find a resolution.”

The Yodel couriers’ ballot result comes as drivers at the Booker distribution network, which is owned by Tesco, move closer to industrial action over pay and conditions.

Even before Covid, the estimated shortage of drivers was about 60,000. The latest figures show a shortfall of just under 100,000 affecting businesses from John Lewis to, supermarket shelves and restaurant chain Wagamama.

Experts say the shortfall is down to new restrictions on travel to the UK and haulage companies say European drivers have simply decided not to return due to Covid-19 and Brexit.

There is also understood to be a large backlog in HGV driver tests, again because of the pandemic, meaning it’s been harder to get new drivers on the road.

In response to the shortage, the government has ramped up testing for lorry drivers, is paying for more apprentices and is allowing current drivers to increase their working hours.

The new rules mean drivers can increase their daily driving limit twice a week from nine hours to 11 hours.