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Exel delivers T&G's holy grail of pay rises
Page 14
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In the run-up to the VVTD Exel drivers have hit the T&G target of E 10 an hour. Guy Sheppard reports.
EXEL IS to double the number of drivers on a supermarket delivery contract following a groundbreaking deal designed to comply with the 48-hour working week.
The three-year deal at Somerfield's St Helens distribution centre on Merseyside boosts hourly pay from £7.50 to £10 and will phase out overtime pay by next May.
Mark Harper, Exel general manager in the North-West, says the number of drivers will now be increased from 125 to nearly 250: "It has taken about 12 months to get there but this deal will be a huge help in recruitment.
"It gives drivers flexibility around which hours and days of the week they work and it gives us the flexibility to operate seven days a week without any constraints from the workforce."
He adds that the agreement with the Transport & General Workers Union should largely remove the need for agency drivers who previously accounted for up to half the drivers on some weekdays.
Tommy Kirwen,T&G regional industrial organiser, says because the negotiations have been so drawn out some of the increase has had to be backdated to May, 2003: "What we have done is protect people's overtime rates until the hourly rate increases to £10. We have been trying to protect our members' earnings."
One of the main sticking points among some drivers was working weekends. Exel says all drivers now accept they will have to work weekends when needed.