COURIERS who transport Covid-19 samples from hospitals to laboratories in London have voted to strike over redundancies, health and safety and victimisation.

The dispute involves the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and contractor The Doctors’ Laboratory (TDL).

IWGB said the company is using the Covid-19 pandemic as cover to declare redundancies, which it is using to target union activists.

TDL cycle courier and IWGB branch chair Alex Marshall said the couriers have ”an impeccable record” and provide “a model service to the community.”

“Instead of rewarding us, management has decided to take away our only means to feed our families in the middle of a pandemic,” he said.

“But the resounding vote in favour of strike action shows that despite management’s attempts to break us, we are more united than ever.”

Strike action is due on June 10, a day after a decision on the redundancies will be made, and has received support from MPs including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

TDL did not respond to a request for comment before the Morning Star when to print.