Wincanton staff in TUPE limbo

By Chris Tindall

Wincanton staff on a haulage contract for brick maker Ibstock have found themselves without jobs after national haulage firm Bimson won the work and refused to accept that TUPE rules applied.

The Unite union has now threatened to launch a legal claim against the companies after the former Wincanton staff turned up to work for their new employer this month and were told to go home.

Wincanton said it had tried to do “everything in its power” to convince the specialist haulier of construction materials that its position was incorrect.

The plc advised the 21 HGV

Lincolnshire’s Benton Bros (Transport) saw its losses deepen last year, despite turnover increasing by 8%.

In the year ending 31 January 2023 the haulier, which provides logistics and transport solutions to the construction and distribution sectors, reported a turnover of £12.8m – up from £11.8m the previous year.

However, it was unable to reverse the £190,000 pre-tax loss it made in the year ending January 2022, instead seeing it slide further to a £409,000 loss. The company said it was “pleased with the trading results even after the rise in fuel costs”.