Whistl acts over zero hours bust-up

Royal Mail’s main rival Whistl – formerly TNT Post – has averted a row over its use of zero hours contracts by agreeing a union pact which will see staff offered long-term deals.
Confirmation of the deal with UK union Community pre-empted the publication of a report by the House of Commons Business, Innovation & Skills Committee into the issue.
Although MPs concluded that claims by Royal Mail about Whistl’s treatment of staff were “not wholly proven”, they did state the fact that 48% of Whistl staff are on zero hours contracts was “disproportionate”.
The MPs also recommended that Ofcom should be given the remit to monitor labour costs and conditions in the postal sector.
Whistl plans to grow to a 20,000-strong workforce in the next few years and the company’s wage levels have been one factor within demands by Whistl’s critics for Ofcom to impose conditions on the firm.
Under the new deal with Whistl, employees on zero hours contracts will be offered new contracts including guaranteed hours after six months of service. Community said its agreement will be backdated to January 1.
Community general secretary Roy Rickhuss said: “The recognition by Whistl management that it needed to move away from workers on zero hour contracts and work towards implementation of a living wage is a major breakthrough. This deal is a big step towards our objective of securing a living wage for all Whistl employees, which we will continue to pursue.”

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