Press

Press – Dec 04, 2024

Evri and GMB Union deliver ground-breaking courier pay deal

Photo of a woman answering door to courier in blue uniform
  • Industry first initiative will provide self-employed couriers with insurance-backed paid sick leave
  • Pay offer worth millions, including festive support payments
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays, guaranteed rates of pay, pension contributions and parental leave

Evri, the UK’s biggest parcel delivery company, and GMB Union have today announced a ground-breaking pay deal for the union’s couriers – an industry first that will give its self-employed couriers access to paid sick leave*.

Under the new pay deal Evri’s eligible “self-employed plus” (SE+) couriers who are members of GMB Union will receive:

  • Festive support payments of up to £950 for SE+ GMB Union members
  • Fully subsidised death, disability, accident and sickness insurance starting January 25th providing financial protection against unforeseen circumstances 
  • Access to qualified accountants for assistance with VAT returns

Couriers not yet enrolled in the SE+ scheme will have the opportunity to join starting from January 2025.  

Our couriers are highly valued as the engine of our business. We’ve been proud to lead the industry in offering self-employed workers greater protection and benefits since 2019. This latest ground-breaking deal is a significant step forwards demonstrating our commitment to supporting couriers financially and with a raft of protection and benefits, including sick pay for our SE+ workers in an industry first.

Martijn De Lange, CEO, Evri

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Securing sickness payments for thousands of couriers is a huge step forward. Once again GMB has shown the difference unions can make in the modern world of work.

Gill Ogilvie, GMB Lead Organiser

Today’s announcement follows Evri’s launch of its inaugural (SE+) courier model in September 2019. This remains the UK’s only union-backed courier initiative.

The pioneering SE+ scheme provides access to 28 days paid holiday, guaranteed national minimum wage, pension contributions, parental leave and additional flexible benefits.

Earlier this year, Evri also partnered with flexible benefits platform, Onsi, to enhance its offering to couriers introducing:

  • Wellbeing support, which offers couriers benefits like Digital GP, Digital Physio and support for mental health, finances, and family.
  • Discounts, to provide couriers with deals to save on everyday expenses
  • Financial management support which provides early access to wages.