Dozens of delivery drivers join legal claim against Royal Mail-operated eCourier over workers’ rights

Drivers engaged by eCourier say they have been wrongly treated as self-employed contractors and should instead be classed as workers under UK employment law. If successful, this would entitle them to rights including the National Minimum Wage and paid holiday. 

eCourier is a delivery company owned by Royal Mail which operates across the UK, including providing courier services for healthcare and other sectors. The drivers, represented by law firm Leigh Day, primarily operate in and around London and the South East. 

Drivers say that the level of control exercised over their work - including how jobs are allocated and expectations around availability and performance - does not reflect genuine self-employment.  

Those bringing the claim also argue they were not provided with a written statement of employment particulars, something workers are legally entitled to receive. 

Leigh Day has previously brought a successful claim by drivers against private hire company Uber. The firm is also bringing claims against Bolt and Addison Lee, as well as vehicle marketplace BCA, who claim their drivers and couriers are self-employed contractors and therefore not entitled to workers’ rights. 

The claim is being supported by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). IWGB members working at eCourier have taken strike action in both 2019 and 2024, protesting low pay and the company’s failure to pay statutory holiday pay. The union has accused eCourier of using “bogus self-employment” to reduce costs while shifting financial risk onto drivers. 

Current and former eCourier drivers can still join the claim. It is believed that hundreds of drivers may be eligible. 

Mandy Bhattal, employment partner at Leigh Day, said: 

“Drivers are continuing to come forward because they recognise that their working arrangements may not match what the law considers to be self-employment. We would encourage any current or former eCourier drivers who think this applies to them to seek advice and consider joining the claim as soon as possible.” 

Alex Marshall, President of the IWGB Union, said:  

“This case highlights the government’s failure to tackle the deep injustice that runs through the gig economy. While ministers promote the Employment Rights Bill as a once-in-a-generation advance for workers, they continue to ignore the elephant in the room: gig economy companies are still being allowed to opt out of basic workers’ rights altogether.  

“For employers who want to deny their workforce fair pay and protections, the gig economy remains wide open for business. eCourier is a clear example of how these loopholes are being exploited. Workers there are forced to organise, strike and take legal action simply to secure the rights they should already have under the law. 

“eCourier workers could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation - we urge all eCourier riders to look into joining this claim to demand back the pay and protections that have been unfairly denied to them for so long.”