The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain announced that it has reached a historic pay deal with NHS contractor The Doctors Laboratory that will see its self-employed workers move from being paid per delivery to being paid per hour, reducing uncertainty around earnings.

According to the union, the deal “proves it is possible for so-called ‘gig economy’ workers to secure hourly pay and improved conditions through campaigns and strikes.”

Self-employed couriers on “worker” status that deliver emergency blood and pathology samples for NHS and private hospitals will have the choice to move from being paid per delivery to being paid for every hour worked. Those on employee contracts will have the option to have their vehicles and equipment provided by the company, as well as a fuel card to cover petrol costs.

A planned strike later this week was also called off when the deal was reached.

Other conditions in the deal include:

• An additional payment of £0.20-£0.40 per mile (depending on vehicle) to cover expenses for couriers on worker status.
• Couriers on employee contracts will have a pushbike, motorbike or van provided by the company and a fuel card to cover petrol expenses.
• Night work (between 22:00-07:00) will be paid at an enhanced rate of 12.5% higher than day rate.
• A guarantee that couriers' hours won't be cut when transferring to the new contracts
• A commitment to review the deal in six months’ time and annual pay reviews.

The IWGB is also representing 45 Doctors Laboratory couriers as part of a £1 million holiday pay claim being heard next week at the Central London Employment Tribunal.

“Until recently, The Doctors Laboratory had denied its couriers basic employment rights, including paid holidays, by wrongfully classifying them as independent contractors. Following the launch of legal action by the IWGB in 2017, the company reclassified all its couriers as workers or employees,” the union stated. However, TDL has never compensated the couriers for the years it denied them employment rights.”

Last year, the IWGB won the right at the Central Arbitration Committee to set up a collective bargaining unit on behalf of TDL couriers, the first time in UK history that this had been done with a so-called “gig economy” employer.