COURIER company DHL/UK Mail is facing industrial action after sacking 20 drivers who refused to accept £2,000 pay cuts, trade unionists reported yesterday.

The GMB union said that drivers at depots across Britain were “frogmarched” into offices last month, placed under duress and told to sign a contract incorporating the pay cut or their services would no longer be required.

Twenty refused to sign and were subsequently sacked.

DHL/UKMail, which delivers for well-known brands such as Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser, o2, Ebay and Argos, reported a 10 per cent increase in operating profits in its most recent quarterly report.

GMB national officer for transport and distribution Mick Rix said: “I have never known drivers to be so angry and upset at a company.

“We have organised a number of meetings up and down the country with GMB members and more than 200 drivers and others working for DHL/UK Mail have joined GMB.

“They have simply had enough of their appalling treatment by the company executives and depot managers.

“Many are talking about the possibility of taking action.

“DHL/UKMail need to have a serious rethink. They claim to be a socially responsible company, yet their draconian treatment of drivers demonstrates these are just words on a website.

“We have written to DHL/UK Mail demanding an urgent meeting.

“If they don't respond and meet with us, our campaign for justice for GMB drivers at this company will go to another level.

“We urge all drivers to contact GMB now.”

Company bosses pocketed payments of £900,000 in 2016, GMB said.