League table of driver tachograph ‘performance’ contravenes GDPR and is reminder they have no job security

Birmingham bin drivers employed by the Job & Talent employment agency have been subjected to the ‘bullying tactic’ of having their driving ‘performances’ publicly ranked in a league table posted on their staff room wall.

Tachographs are used to record driving time, speed, distance and other measures in order to monitor HGV drivers.

The league table (picture available) was posted at Smithfield depot ranking named drivers in order of their infringements according to their tachograph readings.

It is a reminder that agency drivers have no job security and can be let go of at any moment. Some agency drivers have been at Birmingham council for more than a decade without a full-time contract.

Unite has written to the council saying the table is a serious contravention of GDPR legislation, as the information contained is of a personal nature. The council has admitted that GDPR has been breached.
Job and Talent agency workers on the refuse contract will begin striking over bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting on 1 December.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The public ranking of the drivers’ tachograph infringements is just another bullying tactic, along with blacklisting threats, to keep them in line. The way these workers are being treated is disgraceful and Unite will provide maximum support in helping them ensure they are treated with the respect they deserve.”

Birmingham council has been rocked by a blacklisting scandal after a manager was caught on camera telling agency staff that council chiefs had told him workers will be banned from permanent roles if they refuse to cross picket lines.

A growing number of Job & Talent agency staff are refusing to cross the picket lines of striking Birmingham bin workers due to unsustainable workloads and the toxic and bullying workplace culture at the council’s refuse department.

Workloads for agency staff are unsustainable because there are no recycling or garden waste collections, meaning that all refuse ends up in a single bin, which is often extremely heavy and overflowing.

In a letter to the council, Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “This is information that should be confidential, not available for public viewing and certainly not used for the purpose of publicly shaming employees. I am certain that there is no provision within any council policy that allows for this to take place. Further, the council are in serious breach of GDPR regulations.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.