Brian Stanley on Fastway turmoil: workers and contractors unpaid
Brian Stanley spoke about Fastway's operations and the impact on workers, self-employed contractors and customers, calling the treatment of workers "disgraceful" and urging state agencies and ministers to assist. He warned that hundreds of workers at a main depot in Port Arlington and contract drivers faced unpaid wages, no notice and delays accessing social welfare.
He said Fastway workers had been "caught in an awful mess and treated disgracefully," with some owed wages, given no warning, and unable to sign on for social welfare for another three weeks. He emphasised that many workers had no income because they had not been officially made redundant and therefore could not apply for jobs or supports immediately.
He highlighted self-employed contractors who were owed payments, some going back six, seven and eight weeks. He noted that some contractors had invested in vans and in franchises - buying a delivery area from Fastway - leaving them financially exposed by unpaid invoices.
He pointed to a third group affected: customers waiting for parcels that remain caught in the system. The speaker stressed that confidence and delivery of packages were also casualties of the company's operational failure.
He set out figures reported for Fastway's balance sheet at the end of 2024, citing tangible assets of £5.2 million, intangible assets of £28 million and £10.6 million in cash. He presented these numbers while describing the situation as a serious and distressing issue for those affected.
He thanked a colleague for raising the issue and said the government would use state agencies to assist workers. He said ministers, particularly in the transport area, would be engaged to see what further help could be provided to workers, self-employed contractors and affected customers.
Immediate impact on workers
He said Fastway workers had been "caught in an awful mess and treated disgracefully," with some owed wages, given no warning, and unable to sign on for social welfare for another three weeks. He emphasised that many workers had no income because they had not been officially made redundant and therefore could not apply for jobs or supports immediately.
Contractors owed payments
He highlighted self-employed contractors who were owed payments, some going back six, seven and eight weeks. He noted that some contractors had invested in vans and in franchises - buying a delivery area from Fastway - leaving them financially exposed by unpaid invoices.
Customers and undelivered parcels
He pointed to a third group affected: customers waiting for parcels that remain caught in the system. The speaker stressed that confidence and delivery of packages were also casualties of the company's operational failure.
Company finances reported
He set out figures reported for Fastway's balance sheet at the end of 2024, citing tangible assets of £5.2 million, intangible assets of £28 million and £10.6 million in cash. He presented these numbers while describing the situation as a serious and distressing issue for those affected.
Government and agencies response
He thanked a colleague for raising the issue and said the government would use state agencies to assist workers. He said ministers, particularly in the transport area, would be engaged to see what further help could be provided to workers, self-employed contractors and affected customers.
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Transcript
There is a large section in the programme for government regarding enterprise and employment. The Fastway workers have been caught in an awful mess and treated disgracefully. One of the main depots is in Port Arlington and there are hundreds of workers affected and contract drivers. Workers, some who are owed wages, got no warning whatsoever and can't apply for a job because they are not officially redundant yet. No notice, no opportunity to sign on and they can't sign on for social welfare for another three weeks. There is no income. And then you have the self implied contractors, they are owed payments, some of them going back six and seven and eight weeks. Some of these workers bought vans, they bought a franchise, in other words bought an area for delivery off Fastway and there are also undelivered parcels caught in the system. So there are three casualties here. There are workers, there are contractors and there are the customers who are waiting for parcels that are caught in the system. Fastway had tangible assets of £5.2 million at the end of 2024 and £28 million at the end of 2024 in intangible assets and £10.6 million in cash. Thank you Deputy for raising what is a very very serious issue and a very distressing and devastating issue for all those who have been victims essentially of the activity and manner of doing business of this company. I know Deputy McCormack also has raised this I think publicly and as you say there are issues for the workers and we will do everything we possibly can through state agencies to be of assistance to workers. There are issues of self-employed contractors who are owed money and then customers in terms of confidence but also in terms of getting the getting the packets for packages sorry and supplied to them. We will continue to work with the ministers involved particularly in the transport area to see what more we can do to help the workers and the self-employed contractors concerned. Thank you. . . . . . .