Delivery company DX, widely used in the legal sector, is the latest business facing threats of action over the treatment of workers as self-employed people.

The GMB union said today that: 'Legal action will be taken to secure rights on pay, holidays, health and safety, discipline and grievances on behalf of members who work as couriers and drivers for DX.'

According to the union, DX classified its couriers as self-employed, thus denying them employment rights such as the minimum wage, holiday or sick pay. 

Maria Ludkin, GMB legal director, said: ‘All our members want is basic employment rights as are enjoyed by the majority, including the right to be paid a minimum wage and holiday pay. This is another company trying to duck its obligations and responsibilities by making its workforce "self-employed".’

The national living wage is currently £7.20 per hour for over-25s, increasing to £7.50 from April this year.

In October last year, an employment tribunal ruled that drivers who brought a claim against taxi-hailing business Uber were workers and that Uber was wrong to label them ‘self-employed’.

In January, the Gazette reported that an employment tribunal hearing between three taxi drivers and cab company Addison Lee had begun.

DX has been contacted for comment. The London Stock Exchange-quoted company was formed in 1975 as one of the first businesses to challenge Royal Mail's monopoly following a national postal workers' strike.