• Union leaders have accused parcels carrier Lynx of trying
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to force drivers to sign new contracts by advertising their jobs in the local press.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union says more than 70 of the 90 staff at the company's Gateshead depot face the sack because they are refusing to sign before the company's deadline of 17 February.
Lynx managing director Philip Rose declines to comment about the issue but described the connection between the job adverts and the contracts as spurious because there were genuine vacancies which need to be filled at the depot. "I don't want to say anything at this stage because I believe it could be prejudicial to people forming their views and making their decision," he adds.
The RMT, which represents 1,400 of Lynx's 2,000 employees, says negotiations over the new pay and conditions have lasted more than six months.
H The new Lynx contract changes the terms of a bonus scheme, taking into account the time between each drop. The existing contract varies from depot to depot: the RMT claims the new contract standardises these payments and will leave drivers worse off.
Overtime is also affected, says the union, with guaranted working hours falling from 40 to 39 hours in England and Wales, and from 45 to 40 hours in Scotland.