Agency workers fear for jobs at Christmas

Agency staff working at the Yodel mail-order distribution centre in Shaw fear they may lose their jobs before Christmas.

The company, in Linney Lane, is ending its contract for temporary staff with Blue Arrow employment agency and starting a new contract with First Personnel Services on December 18.

But the switch in agencies has left some of Blue Arrow’s 106 agency staff based at the site unsure of whether they have a job just days before Christmas.

Staff said they have been advised by their current agency Blue Arrow to sign up with the new provider.

But workers say they have no idea whether their current jobs are guaranteed.

One worker who has spent four years at the site but did not want to be identified, said: “Blue Arrow said Yodel would like to keep as many of us on as possible, but that is no guarantee of employment. If we move to the new agency there is no guarantee that we will get our old job back. Either way we could be out of work just before Christmas.”

The worker said discussions continued. A spokeswoman for the company said: “While we appreciate that this is a difficult time for the individuals involved, as the employment contracts are with Blue Arrow it is up to the agency to inform and advise their personnel of the options available to them and it would be inappropriate for us to do so.”