Who are we?

We are 18 self-employed HGV drivers who have come together to bring an employment tribunal claim against a recruitment agency company called Staffline. Staffline say they are the biggest recruiter in the UK & Ireland and website says they are an “outsourced workforce provider, working on-site at client’s premises”. We are engaged as lorry drivers to aid in the delivery of car parts for large companies such as DHL and Jaguar Land Rover. However, we work alongside the core drivers of DHL and Jaguar Land Rover drivers who are employees. We are often made a secondary priority, despite our equal efforts. 

Our role entails long, extensive drives on both weekdays and weekends and this is rarely rotated or compromised with core drivers. 

There is little flexibility when it comes to how we do the job. 

Our Case 

We are fighting for equal of rights as agency drivers. We all believe that we are employees or workers of the agency. There is currently no holiday pay, no sickness pay, and no pension scheme for us. We are controlled by the agency and are paid by the agency. We undertake the same tasks as the core drivers and face the same risks. 

The working schedule is given first to the core drivers, where the most desirable shifts are chosen, leaving Staffline drivers working unsociable hours, with no say over the matter. The core drivers get the most lucrative shifts and we are treated like second class citizens.

Over the years, Staffline have had compulsory shutdowns which have had a huge knock-on effect for all drivers because they are out of work and have no income. 

The level of uncertainty and insecurity is immense. We are dependent on our hours and our wage but carry a constant worry due to the instability of the working model set up by Staffline. Some drivers have had to take out pay-day loans when events like a shutdown have happened. This only leads to more financial struggle and worry. 

We all believe that there needs to be fair employment practices and sustainable work/life balance. We are valued less and we have to sign a disclaimer stating that when the weather conditions are bad, it is down to us to accept all liabilities. This includes when there are high winds, flooding, snow and more. This takes all responsibility out of employers hands and puts it solely into that of us, the drivers.

We believe that on average we are paid £20,000 less per year than the DHL core drivers. 

We are fighting together for our equal rights as agency drivers and to hold Staffline accountable for their employment practices.

Why is it important?

We are committed to changing the way agencies in the UK treat their workers. Everyone should be entitled to the same benefits for the same work.

We believe that this type of business model is put in place to solely benefit large companies and eliminate any form of responsibility. We believe that this business model encourages cheap labour. 

We have instructed a top team of employment lawyers to deal with our case. TMP Solicitors who successfully acted for Gary Smith against Pimlico Plumbers in the Supreme Court is representing us. David Stephenson who was the junior barrister in the Pimlico Plumbers case is working alongside Heather Williams QC. We are hoping to raise legal fees to pay the costs of this very important case. We believe this case may change the way in which agencies across the UK treat their workers.

Thank you for taking the time to read our case page.