As a self-employed courier for Hermes, we (the 10,000 couriers engaged by Hermes) are shortly to be forced (without any consultation) into working 7 days a week, possibly up to 8pm every evening to fulfil our contract for services. Although we are not 'obliged' to collect and deliver the parcels in theory, we would lose our jobs (or contract for services) if we didn't, so in practice, we have no option but to accede to the company's wishes. We also have the right to nominate substitute couriers, but in reality finding someone to cover our work on weekends has proven impossible, so much so that even Hermes themselves isn't trying to engage staff for weekend work. Their contract for services is pretty watertight, but I just wondered if there was anyone out there who had an idea that could be useful in our fight to avoid being forced to work 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year without holiday pay, sick pay or any other benefit. I accept that we are 'self-employed', but only because it's how the employer chooses to operate without costs to themselves.