\n<\/p>\n
Delivery firm DPD says drivers that chose not to work on Tuesday due to a dispute over pay will return to work.<\/p>\n
The company said that “an agreement on a way forward has been reached” but did not confirm whether it has deferred a plan to cut pay for deliveries of small packages. The BBC has reached out to DPD for further comment.<\/p>\n
It had been thought that the delivery service could face disruption after some of its drivers began three days of action.<\/p>\n
DPD previously said it did not expect the stoppage to have a “significant impact” on its services, and added that it had increased pay rates for the delivery of larger parcels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Some drivers had refused to work for three days after DPD said it would cut the amount it pays for deliveries of small parcels by 65p.<\/p>\n
The lower rate was intended to apply to those who are self-employed or franchised, which is the majority of DPD drivers.<\/p>\n
The BBC has been told that the various chat groups where drivers were organising their action had about 1,300 to 1,500 participants.<\/p>\n
Several drivers told the BBC they were given only a few hours notice before the payment changes came into effect in late September.<\/p>\n
DPD said it had “adjusted some of our rates to reflect changes in our parcel traffic profile”.<\/p>\n
It said driver stops which include only smaller parcels would see a reduction of 65p.<\/p>\n
Stops which include larger parcels, or high-value or pharmaceutical parcels would see no change, DPD said, while heavier deliveries would get an extra 65p.<\/p>\n
The company also said it had introduced new incentive payments, “designed to increase earnings all year round”.<\/p>\n
“As a result, we believe our driver remuneration package remains among the best in our industry,” it said.<\/p>\n
But one driver said the changes would cut his income by about \u00a325 a day, or around \u00a36,500 a year, which would make it “difficult” for him to manage his household costs.<\/p>\n
Another driver said that even with the increased rate for larger parcels, there is “no way” he could make up the losses resulting from the 65p cut.<\/p>\n
“We just don’t get that many larger parcels to make up for the loss resulting from the rate cut in smaller parcels,” he told the BBC.<\/p>\n
“And even if we did take on more larger parcels, we would have to work longer and do more stops just to earn the same amount as before the cut.”<\/p>\n
The drivers taking part in the action said they would refuse to deliver parcels on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.<\/p>\n
DPD previously said: “We acknowledge that some drivers have raised concerns regarding the new arrangements, and these are being addressed.<\/p>\n
“However, a small number of drivers at various depots have chosen not to operate today. We do not expect this to have a significant impact on our service.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n