WORKERS employed by DHL to provide vital catering services for the Avanti West Coast train line are solidly supporting ongoing strike action in their fight for pay justice, RMT said today.

An analysis by the transport union has found that the companies’ parent groups paid out nearly £2 billion in the last year to shareholders, fuelling anger at the board’s “hypocrisy” as the low-paid employees who generate those profits get nothing.

DHL’s parent company Deutsche Post AG paid out €1.6 billion (£1.4bn) of dividends to shareholders in May, an increase of 17 per cent from the year prior.

And in September, Avanti West Coast’s parent company First Group PLC confirmed it would return £500 million to shareholders.

The latest accounts for DHL Supply Chain Ltd reveal that more than £2.7m was paid to company directors in one year, with the highest-paid director receiving an eye-watering £476,000 — a raise of nearly 8 per cent.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said members were rock solid in their industrial action as they stand up for the basic principle of pay justice.

He added: “With inflation rocketing and national insurance set to increase, these front-line workers are facing a cost-of-living crisis.

“But it’s another story for the Scrooge bosses who, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, have still paid out eye-watering sums in dividends and director pay, whilst treating the workers who generate their profits with complete contempt.

“Rather than continuing to line the pockets of shareholders and directors, RMT is demanding a fair pay award for these workers that recognises their vital contribution to our rail services and the soaring cost of living.”

Avanti West Coast said that the dispute was between DHL and their employees when approached for comment.

A spokesperson for DHL Supply Chain said: “We are disappointed that the RMT union is staging industrial action over pay on our Avanti West Coast contract.

"As ever, we remain open to further talks to reach a satisfactory outcome for both parties, but contingency plans are in place to minimise disruption to services during this time.”