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Home delivery restructure plan puts drivers' jobs at risk

29th March 2007, Page 10
29th March 2007
Page 10
Page 10, 29th March 2007 — Home delivery restructure plan puts drivers' jobs at risk
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The Home Delivery Network is in consultation with unions after deciding on a "depot restructure" David Harris reports.

THE HOME DELIVERY Network (HDN) says the rise in internet shopping and a reduction in its catalogue work means it is being forced to make around 670 people redundant.

The home delivery service has 60 depots nationwide and 7,000 staff. It is planning a"depot restructure" which will result in hundreds of jobs being lost. More than 440 of them wilt be full and part-time delivery driving jobs.

The company says it is focused on "reshaping the business to better align itself to the changing face of retailing, including the rise in internet shopping".

An EIDN spokesman explains: "We're making it fit for purpose so we can meet the demands of the network. IFIDNI is also recruiting in certain areas, but in terms of net figures it will be a 669 reduction."

HDN has now begun a formal consultation with the trade unions T&G and USDAW to discuss job losses.

Julia Long, 1. SzG national secretary for transport, says: "This news is obviously disappointing but we have to deal with a difficult situation. We will be using the consultation process with our members and the company to see what opportunities there are for redeployment, as well as doing our best to ensure that none of the redundancies are compulsory."

Walter Blackwood, managing director of HDN, adds: "These proposed changes are required to ensure we have the most effective business structure going forward, creating a firm foundation for commercial growth," HDN was formed in 2005 following the merger of Reality Group and Business Express, an offshoot of Littlewoods.


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