The members that make up our logistics sector keep our country moving. We fight for better pay and improved work facilities for you to reflect the importance of your work.
We believe that, as things stand, workplace facilities for those in the logistics sector are not up to the standards that we expect and that our members deserve.
As many of you will be aware, the main issues we are facing are poor quality rest stops and hygiene facilities, driver fatigue and a lack of diversity in our driver community.
Skilled drivers have repeatedly walked away from the industry, and nobody will replace them until safety, decency and dignity are restored to driving in this country.
The UK is currently short of between 50,000 and 80,000 HGV drivers. One of the major reasons given for leaving the industry is the working conditions, particularly the difficulty and hardship around overnight stops.
Fatigue is a major, and potentially deadly, concern. With drivers constantly working 46/48 hours a week in stressful road conditions and amidst the growing shortage of drivers, the increasing workload puts undue pressure on the shoulders of existing workers.
Improvements are essential or the country will struggle to recruit the required numbers of drivers, leading to further supply issues.
Did you know that 99% of HGV drivers are men? This must change, and we have to recruit more members from all walks of life.
If we can continue to campaign for better and safer workplaces, and more checks by the Health and Safety Executive and local authority officers, we will be able to really kick on and recruit a wider diversity of people for our sector.
Driver forum
Alongside our fellow unions, we submitted a joint document to the Department for Transport to attempt to establish a driver forum. We did this so union representatives would be able to report directly to the Government the situation on the ground as it is and facilitate real change.
We are still yet to hear back from the Department for Transport on this, and we will be continuing to press for answers.
Conference
As you may now know, Community’s Biennial Delegate Conference is coming up soon. As part of this, sectors from across the union are invited to submit motions to share ideas and help shape our vision for the future.
The AA section of the logistics sector has submitted a motion to conference around the poor quality of rest and hygiene facilities. If passed, it will form part of Community’s platform and priorities for the coming two years.
As your union, we will continue to campaign to make this a reality, and we look forward to bringing more positive updates to our members soon.
If you are a member of Community and need help or advice, please contact us at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
© Community Trade Union 2024