Evri's plan to close delivery hubs across Northern Ireland and replace them with a ‘super site’ will “cause Christmas chaos”, GMB Union has said.

Instead of running local hubs strategically side-by-side with the new facility, management “pushed ahead with consolidation before the super site was ready or fit for purpose”, GMB said.

The local hubs closed during the autumn and the result has been “mounting operational chaos, increased pressure on staff, and serious risks to their wellbeing”, the union continued. “Workers have reported blocked or inaccessible toilet facilities, raising fears of contamination and unacceptable breaches of basic hygiene standards.

“Frustration is growing across the workforce as conditions deteriorate while Director of Delivery Conor Ormsby has continued to delay meeting with GMB to discuss the crisis.”

Evri's plan to close delivery hubs across Northern Ireland and replace them with a 'super site' will "cause Christmas chaos", GMB Union has said.

placeholder image — Evri's plan to close delivery hubs across Northern Ireland and replace them with a 'super site' will "cause Christmas chaos", GMB Union has said.

Geraldine Hughes, GMB Organiser, commented: “Workers are paying the price for a strategy that was rushed, ill-planned and unsafe.

“Closing community hubs before the super-site was ready has caused Christmas chaos, created serious health and safety risks and shown complete disregard for the people who keep this operation running.

“GMB will not stand by while our members’ wellbeing is treated as an afterthought.

“Evri must meet us urgently, fix these unsafe conditions and start respecting the workforce.”