LEADING courier firm Hermes is putting drivers and the public at risk to boost profits, general union GMB charged yesterday.

Hermes delivery workers could be driving without insurance because their policies do not cover the use of their cars for business purposes, the union says.

At its congress in Plymouth yesterday, the union accused Hermes of “deliberately dodging their responsibility to make sure their drivers are properly insured for business purposes.”

Reps say the company has failed to ensure that workers, who are paid a piece rate, inform their own insurers about using their private cars for deliveries.

In a letter reporting the matter to the Association of British Insurers, the union says a top-up insurance policy offered by Hermes is not compulsory — and may be void if drivers have not notified their insurers.

The union said one driver recently had a serious accident while working for Hermes, and was informed by his insurance company that his entire policy was void.

GMB national officer Mick Rix said: “Hermes are deliberately dodging their responsibility to make sure their drivers are properly insured for business purposes and are in fact knowingly misleading hardworking Hermes drivers into thinking they have proper cover.

“GMB has serious concerns that Hermes is putting their drivers and the public, at serious risk by cutting corners in the interests of profit.”

A Hermes spokeswoman said: “We categorically refute these allegations by the GMB.

“Every courier that delivers for Hermes is required to have insurance for their vehicles and where this does not include ‘commercial use’ they are covered by our group scheme. Hermes does not profit from this.

“Couriers are also free to make their own commercial insurance arrangements and/ or ‘opt out’ of the group scheme if they are already covered, are providing service for other courier companies or wish to have fully comprehensive cover.”

The union has been at the centre of a number of tribunal cases about casualised workers in the “gig economy.”

GMB professional drivers’ branch chair Steve Garelick, who has challenged cab firm Uber, said: “The questions we’ve got over bogus self-employment … is ridiculous. Unless we challenge, nothing will ever change.”

GMB general secretary Tim Roache said insecure contracts were “hurting workers, hurting their families, hurting communities.”