GMB castigates Bidfood over parking fine payment demands

The GMB union is advising its members who work for Bidfood not to pay parking fines incurred during their driver duties.

In a notice to its members, GMB said: “It has come to our attention that Bidfood are increasingly attempting to recoup the cost of parking fines (incurred during a driver’s duties) from your wages.

“GMB want you to know what your rights are on this issue. We are advising you not to agree to pay the cost of the fine even if you are threatened with disciplinary action (unless you agree and believe you are directly responsible for incurring the fine).

“We are providing you with a template letter to use when you are asked to sign a letter consenting to the deduction from your wages to cover the cost of parking fines.”

GMB added: “You are within your rights to refuse to sign the form if you do not agree to these deductions. Any threat of disciplinary action for refusing to sign may amount to bullying and intimidation, for which you are entitled to lodge a grievance.

“Parking fines incurred while conducting duties for Bidfood should be treated as an operational cost for the business, not a personal liability for drivers. It is unreasonable for the company to pass this cost onto employees when the fines arise from work-related activities.”

GMB is also highlighting to Bidfood employees their rights regarding deadlines for booking annual leave.

“It has come to our attention that Bidfood is setting a deadline of the 1st of December for employees to book their remaining annual leave and are then proposing to allocate any un-booked remaining leave between January and March,” the union said in a notice to its members.

“This bulletin outlines your rights under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) and provides guidance on how to respond:

• Bidfood must provide sufficient notice equal to twice the length of the leave period they wish you to take (e.g., four weeks’ notice for two weeks’ leave).

• Any deadlines imposed by Bidfood should not undermine your ability to take your statutory leave entitlement of 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time workers, including bank holidays).

• Under the WTR, you cannot lose your statutory annual leave if your employer has not made reasonable efforts to allow you to take it.”

GMB said it will be raising this issue with Bidfood.

Bidfood has yet to respond to a request for comments on the matters raised by GMB.