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A new Trade Union set up in DP DHL Express (Hellas) - Greece
6 December 2007
On 19 November a new trade union – Union of DHL Greece Employees’ - was legally registered with the Greek Court. It organises 110 employees all working in the DHL EXPRESS (HELLAS). The initiative dates back to July this year when six employees amongst whom the delegate of the Deutsche Post DHL EWC Stelios Magiafas, decided to create a company union. The initiators experienced pressure and intimidation from the management, one of them being dismissed shortly after signatures started being collected for the setting up of the union. Ekaterina Apostolopoulou intends to sue the company to court to get reinstated in her job – to this end, the ETF and ITF will give all support needed. The European Works’ Council – particularly of Peter Luypaert, EWC Presidium member responsible for the country group that includes Greece – played an instrumental role in pushing the union recognition process ahead…
On 19 November a new trade union – of DHL EXPRESS (HELLAS) - was legally registered with the Greek Court. At present, the union organises 110 employees, one forth of the company workforce in Greece.
The initiative dates back in July this year, when six company employees decided to create a trade union, to ensure forceful representation of workforce vis-à-vis the local operation management and to ensure communication amongst employees with regards to company strategies and developments.
Stelios Magiafas, Greek delegate of the DP DHL European Works’ Council, played an instrumental role in starting up the union. What mattered in the first place was the experience that he got by attending EWC meetings, and the networking with the EWC members, that allowed him to understand that national workers’ representation bodies are key in complementing the employees’ participation and involvement at European level.
In July – August signatures for the new union have been collected. Pressure on union initiators by management was substantial. One of them, Ekaterina Apostolopoulou, first to sign up for the new union and candidate for union top structures was dismissed. The company invoked professional competence reasons. Ekaterina intends to sue the company to court although currently the central management committed to investigate more thoroughly the case.
Peter Luypaert – member of the EWC Presidium in charge with the country group that includes Greece – visited the concerned DHL site in September and met with representatives of the temporary union board and the management. His presence made a considerable difference, reinforcing the union’s position in the workplace.
The European Works’ Council already committed to closely follow the Greek situation and to react to any pressure and intimidation that may be experienced by the Greek EWC delegate – which was the case in the past.
The ETF and the ITF – in coordination with their Greek affiliated members - will support the newly founded trade union and will support any action that may help Ekaterini get her job back.
For more information, please contact:
Cristina Tilling - Political Secretary
c.tilling@etf-europe.org
Phone: +32 (2) 285 46 66
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