Lorry drivers in pay dispute

DOZENS of lorry drivers have faced months of irregularities with their wages after their company was bought by a rival.

Road haulage company Eddie Stobart announced it was to acquire James Irlam and Sons in March last year.

Workers at the Stobart Group transport site at Hanchurch say problems with their wages began when the companies came together in April and they started to be paid fortnightly instead of weekly.

Since then, they have had a mixture of problems from not being paid at all on some pay days to receiving as little as £6 on others.

And they are up in arms that the problem, thought to affect around 70 workers at the site, is continuing.

It has been blamed on the payroll system and the company says it only affects a very small percentage of the group's 5,000 employees around the country.

But Simon Green, regional industrial organiser for the union Unite, said that the company could have an employment tribunal on its hands if things are not resolved at the Stoke-on-Trent site.

He said: "The workers are very upset and angry that their pay has been messed about with.

"Union members are being offered advice and we are trying to resolve the problem amicably with the company.

"We are using the internal grievance procedure to work with the employer, but if that is not successful an employment tribunal could follow. We are not at that stage yet though."

One worker, who is owed £700 and wishes to remain anonymous, said: "Some people are getting nothing, others are getting £6 or £12 for a fortnight's work.

"There are people who have parked their wagons and said they won't move if they aren't paid."

He added: "I have had two instances where I have not had a penny, not even a wage slip."

A colleague, who also did not want to be named, said: "When you go into the office on pay day you have to fill out a form to sort out your wages and there are always plenty of people behind and in front of you in the queue.

"We have been told it is a problem with the system and it is not just our depot.

"If they had put a letter out or something and said there were problems I am sure people would be understanding but we have had nothing."

A Stobart Group spokesman said: "The company is working hard to address these issues and extra resources have been drafted in.

"Working with employees, the Group will resolve matters as quickly as possible."