Some 392 delivery drivers are taking legal action against Amazon UK over employment rights. This has swelled from one who initiated the claim in late 2021.
Currently, drivers delivering parcels for ‘delivery service partner’ companies are classed as self-employed. This means they lack access to a pension, holiday pay, sick pay or other benefits that full employees would enjoy.
According to Leigh Day, the legal firm representing the drivers, at least 3,000 drivers may be eligible for an average of £10,500 in compensation per year they have delivered parcels for Amazon UK. Should the legal claim win, this could amount to a significant sum for the online giant.
There is a strong case for the drivers to win, as the UK Supreme Court ruled against Uber in a similar case last year.
Leigh Day lawyer Kate Robinson said: “Leigh Day is acting on behalf of drivers who are making employee rights claims against Amazon UK. This means that drivers are asking the employment tribunal to recognise that the way drivers work in practice, and how they fit into Amazon’s business, means they should be classed as employees rather than self-employed as they currently are.
“Being classed as employees would give them rights they are not currently entitled to such as holiday pay, at least national minimum wage and an employment contract. If the employment tribunal agrees that drivers are employees, claimants will go back to the tribunal to decide how much compensation should be given.”