Recognition for GMB

The GMB general union has won the right to collectively bargain on behalf of 569 agency workers at Marks and Spencer’s Swindon distribution centre.

The workers covered are hyper-exploited agency staff employed under a scheme that avoids the protection of the Agency Worker Regulations.

M&S owns and uses the centre but contracts logistics firm DHL to run it. DHL uses recruitment agency 24-7 to provide workers, but they are given employment contracts in the name of Tempay Ltd.

Workers have “permanent” seven-hour-a-week contracts, but are given rotas for 37 hours — for which they have to be available every day of the rota or be subject to disciplinary procedures.

The Tempay workers voted by 97% in favour of GMB recognition in a statutory recognition ballot in which turnout was 76%.

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/m-s-swindon-yes-for-gmb