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A delivery driver who was attacked four times in less than a month and fought off a knife gang has been sacked after ‘breaking the silence on delivery driver robberies’, GMB Union says.
 Jamie Burkinshaw single-handedly fought off a gang of three, including a knifeman, just two days after being blocked in by cars on the same route in another failed robbery in November.
Hermes refused to change his route through Sedgley, in the West Midlands, even after he explained that he feared for his life, telling him to ‘keep working and remain vigilant’ after all four robberies.
Jamie, who is a GMB Union rep, was sacked after raising safety concerns on behalf of other drivers – but GMB is confident this was due to an overzealous local manager and Hermes will do the right thing and reinstate their hero driver.
Jamie Burkinshaw, Hermes Driver, said:
“It was absolutely terrifying – when they pulled the knife on me I thought ‘this is it’. I just sort of went on autopilot, punched him in the face, jumped in my car and drove off.
The next day it hit me the danger I’d been in. The thought of going back on the same route scared me to death. I couldn’t sleep at night.
I told my line manager at Hermes and they were not happy and put serious pressure on me to carry on. When I still said no, I ended up out of a job.”
Elaine King, GMB Organiser said:
“Here is a key worker hero who did everything right, who put his life on the line multiple times for the spirit of Christmas.
Our drivers kept the world moving throughout the pandemic and Jamie’s just trying to do his part to keep them safe.
We have a good relationship with Hermes and we are confident these were just the actions of an overzealous local manager.
We hope Hermes will do the right thing and reinstate their hero driver.”
Source: GMB News
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