Respect Blog

La Campaña de las Compañías de Distribución Mundial de la ITF y UNI ha recibido una atención especial en el número 38 de la publicación insignia de la ITF, Transporte Internacional.

En la página 7 de esta revista pueden encontrar un artículo de la Campaña de DHL y una diseminación de tres páginas sobre "Respecto para los trabajadores", nos enorgullece que esto ocupe el centro de la revista. El artículo en el centro de la página resalta los objetivos de la campaña y las situaciones en las que los trabajadores/as de DHL han recibido un trato con menos respeto del que merecen, mientras que la actualización sobre la Campaña de DHL se basa en las actividades de la semana de los trabajadores de DHL, que se desarrolló del 9 al 13 de noviembre de 2009.  

Pulse aquí para descargar un ejemplar en alemán, español, francés o inglés.

ITF/UNI's global delivery campaign has been given substantial attention in issue 38 of the ITF's flagship publication, Transport International.
 
An article on the DHL Campaign can be found on page 7 of the magazine and a three-page spread on "Respect 4 workers" is given pride of place at its heart. The centre page article outlines the aims of the campaign and instances where DHL workers have been treated with less than the the respect they deserved, whereas the DHL Campaign update focuses on the DHL activities week, which took place between 9-13 November 2009. 

Click here to download a copy in English, German, French or Spanish 

La Red de Trabajadores de DHL, una red global de más de 200.000 trabajadores en más de 50 sindicatos, ha reunido un mensaje en vídeo para la empresa, exigiendo que muestre respeto a sus trabajadores y firmar un acuerdo global que hará claro sus compromisos con los derechos de las y los trabajadores y sus responsabilidades explícitas.

Para ver el video en ingles haga click aquí.

La versión española será en breve disponible.

A new union video has condemned global delivery firm Deutsche Post DHL for betraying its hallmark value of respect for workers.

The video, launched by global union UNI and the ITF under the auspices of the DHL Workers’ Network, which comprises more than 50 unions globally, highlights the company’s failure to respect workers’ rights worldwide. The video message demands that DHL respect its workers and sign a global agreement that will make its commitments to workers’ rights clear and its responsibilities explicit.

DHL is currently trampling workers’ rights in Belgium, where the company is set to shut down its European headquarters near Brussel’s Zaventem Airport and put 880 people out of work. The company will move the work to Bonn, Leipzig and Prague, as well as further afield to Costa Rica.

The decision, claims DHL, was made for convenience and will not produce any cost savings. Fewer than five per cent of workers said that they would be able to relocate to the new facilities.

DHL is also refusing to negotiate the severance packages with the union and says it will only engage individually with workers, a move likely to mean that many workers will receive much less than they would if the union represented them.

“The company has shown no regard for 880 working families in Belgium who will see one of their earners out of a job in the coming year,” said Neil Anderson, head of UNI post and logistics. “This is a devastating blow for hundreds of workers who may not be able to find work in this difficult environment.”

To see the video click here

DHL employees have vowed to begin a programme of industrial action after managers rejected a union plan to keep open the DHL European headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

The three Belgian unions presented the plan to managers at DHL during a European Works Council select committee meeting on 11 February in a bid to avert the closure of the company’s European headquarters in Brussels. The closure is set to affect 788 jobs.

In a meeting on 18 February Deutsche Post DHL management unilaterally ended the first phase of consultation with the unions on the closure and rejected all the unions’ arguments in favour of retaining DHL’s Belgian European headquarters. Managers also refused to participate in an open discussion with the employees and unions or to present them with details of the relocation and redundancy packages available to them. In addition, management would not to enter into negotiations with unions on social plans for those who are unable to move and who will lose their jobs. As a result, workers have been unable to make an informed decision about their future.

In response to this management intransigence, DHL employees based at the Brussels headquarters decided during a staff meeting on 18 February to begin industrial action with the support of Belgian unions. They will continue to demand fair negotiations and clarity about their future.

UNI and the ITF are backing their Belgian colleagues in any industrial action and other steps they are taking in their fight for a fair deal from management.

Competition officials at the European Commission have confirmed that they have sent "statements of objections" to DHL, Panalpina and Kuehne & Nagel, relating to price-fixing allegations on trade leaving and entering the EU.
 
Deutsche Post stated that it has received the charge, but added that the DHL Global Forwarding Unit, one if its subsidiaries, was co-operating with the European Commission and had been granted immunity from prosecution and fines, as long as it continued to assist European Commission officials.
 
(Based on article by the Financial Times, European Freight groups charged, by Nikki Tait, Brussels and James Wilson,  11th Feb 2010)

More than 250 DHL employees followed the call from the Unions and came to the manifestation in Brussels

Friday, the 29th of January, the three biggest Belgian Trade Union confederations organised a manifestation in Brussels to send a strong signal to the Ministers of employment in Europe. It was a manifestation to ensure employment and social justice in Belgium even in times of the financial crisis. Inymedia, an independent news platform in the Internet, reports about 36.000 participants. (http://www.indymedia-letzebuerg.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42599&Itemid=27)

The Unions also wanted to send a strong sign against the recently announced relocation of work from Belgium to other countries. These relocations have affected amongst others,  workers from Opel, Imbev and DHL. The financial crisis is being used by many multinationals as an excuse for restructuring measures and job-cuts.

More than 250 DHL employees also joined the “march for jobs and respect”. For them it was important to send their message of keeping the DHL EUHQ in Belgium and saving the 788 jobs that are affected by DHL's proposed changes. Even managers showed their solidarity with the employees and encouraged them to join the manifestation or participated themselves. The Trade Unions thanked the participants with a special leaflet (which is attached) and informed them about the next planned steps.

The Belgian Trade Unions’ demands:
-        Open discussions with DHL management about the alternative business plan worked out by the Unions with an alternative to the closure of the EUHQ
-        Clarifications about working conditions and the relocation offer for colleagues willing to move to Bonn, Leipzig or Prague.
-        One good social plan for all DHL workers, who will lose their job as a consequence of the restructuring.

ITF and UNI supports the demands of the Belgian Trade Unions and is in total solidarity with the colleagues in DHL. We call all affiliated Unions to support them in their struggle.

DHL management decided in January to sell its UK parcel delivery operations to Home Delivery Network (HDN).

4,700 employees based mainly in Heathrow are affected by this step. Even if this case is not comparable with the French situation because HDN belongs to the owners of Telegraph Media Group which also contains the Shop Direct Group, a mail order and internet retailer, the Trade Unions are concerned about the future of the 4,700 workplaces. Nevertheless HDN is a private equity found owned by the infamous Barclay Brothers. It is not clear yet whether or not this transfer will lead to job-losses. For the new owner it is also a strategic step to generate more pressure on Royal Mail and become a stronger competitor in the UK parcel market.

The EWC in Deutsche Post DHL has already reacted and called on the management to open an information and consultation process for the cases in Belgium, France and the UK. It is obvious that the restructuring measures taken within this short period are following a major plan decided in the Deutsche Post DHL headquarter in Bonn. The members of the EWC have the right to be informed and consulted about this plan and the next steps in Europe. The British Trade Unions fight for a fair transfer with the same terms and conditions valuing for more than the legal period of 1 year and a solution for the existing pension found in DHL.

ITF and UNI Europa support the decisions and measures taken by the Trade Unions in the UK and expresses its solidarity with the colleagues of DHL UK. We are demanding both the existing DHL management and the new management proposed in HDN, to ensure that the Trade Unions are included in all decisions and negotiations so the best result can be obtained for the workers.

This case shows once more the importance of workers rights to unionise and negotiate. We call the management of Deutsche Post DHL to sign a global agreement with UNI/ITF to ensure the respect of basic rights everywhere DHL is operating.

Source: UNI Website

Government ministers in the Netherlands are to challenge a decision taken in the Dutch courts allowing two postal firms to pay workers a “piece work” rate. Click here for full story

DHL Express SA, ha introducido un nuevo sistema conductor propietario en Sudáfrica, pretendiendo que será para "apoderar a los conductores". Las y los delegados sindicales no fueron ni invitados a las negociaciones, ni para discutir la introducción del régimen. Después de una queja de SATAWU, la dirección de DHL envió una carta al local de SATAWU para informarles que la reunión tendrá lugar tres días a partir de la fecha de la recepción de la carta de DHL.

DHL tuvo su primera reunión nacional en 2009. Durante esta reunión, SATAWU condenó el régimen del conductor propietario, debido a la experiencia anterior con DHL Express. Las y los empleados quedaron en deuda, con la perdida de sus casas y carros de algunos conductores propietarios.

Las y los conductores propietarios son particularmente vulnerables a los cambios en el mercado. Las empresas de distribución global ya no están más comprometidos a pagar beneficios, tales como enfermedades o despidos, ya que las y los conductores no son más considerados como empleados.

DHL Express SA has introduced a new Owner Driver scheme in South Africa, claiming that it will "empower drivers".  Union shop stewards were neither invited to any negotiations nor to discuss the scheme's introduction. After SATAWU complained, DHL Management sent a letter to the SATAWU Local to inform them that a meeting would take place three days on from the date of DHL's Letter.

DHL had their first National meeting in 2009. During this meeting, SATAWU condemned the Owner Driver scheme, because of previous experience with ones introduced by DHL Express. Employees were left in debt,  with some owner drivers losing their houses and cars.

Owner Drivers are particularly vulnerable to any changes in the market. Global Delivery companies are no longer liable to pay any benefits such as sickness or redundancy, as the drivers are no longer considered as employees. 

DHL has announced the launch of direct LCL services from Shanghai to Buenos Aires and Valparaiso, enhancing its connectivity between South America and China

DHL Mexico records 10% growth in its international shipment sales for 2009 and increased parcel volumes by about 8% during December last year.

In addition to shipment volumes and sales growth, DHL Mexico also expanded its client base from 15,000 up to 16,500 customers in 2009.

El 5 de enero de 2010, DHL anunció la venta de su servicio de entrega en día definido —parte de su negocio de transporte doméstico de paquetería en el Reino Unido— a Home Delivery Network Ltd. Esta iniciativa forma parte del plan emprendido por su consejero delegado, Ken Allen, para dar más relevancia estratégica a los servicios de logística e internacionales.

DHL tiene una plantilla de 4.700 empleados/as en esta sección de su negocio británico.  Oficialmente, si los organismos reguladores dan el visto bueno a la venta, los trabajadores y trabajadoras pasarán a Home Delivery Network, pero por el momento no está claro cuántos de ellos/as serán despedidos.  Tampoco está claro si DHL ha consultado con el personal y sus sindicatos.

El mes pasado, aproximadamente 3.500 trabajadores/as de DHL Francia recibieron la noticia de la venta de su negocio nacional de paquetería.  La ITF y sus afiliadas francesas creen que el negocio ha sido adquirido por Caravelle, un Fondo de Inversiones, por unos 200m de euros.  El incentivo de Caravelle de contratar a las 3.500 personas empleadas por DHL afectadas por esta decisión es cuestionable y han comprado simplemente la operación de DHL en Francia para ampliar su propia red y lista de clientes.
Los intentos por parte de los sindicatos en Francia de negociar con el Sr Allen han sido rechazados, lo que demuestra el poquísimo respeto con que DHL ha tratado a sus fieles empleados/as.

On 5th January 2010, DHL announced that it is selling the “day definite” part of its domestic parcel business in the UK to Home Delivery Network Ltd. This is part of CEO Ken Allen’s plan to place its strategic emphasis on international and logistics services.

DHL employs some 4,700 people in this part of its UK business. Officially, they will be moved to Home Delivery Network, but it is not clear at the moment how many of these staff will be made redundant, should the sale be allowed by regulators to proceed. It is also unclear as to whether there have been any consultations by DHL with employees and their unions

Last month, approximately 3,500 DHL workers in France were hit with the news that their domestic parcels business was to be sold. The ITF and its French affiliates believe that the business has been bought by Caravelle, an Investment Fund, for some 200m Euros. Caravelle’s incentive to retain the 3,500 DHL staff affected by this decision is questionable and has merely purchased DHL’s operation in France to expand its own network and customer list.

Trade union attempts in France to negotiate with Mr. Allen have been spurned. This shows precious little respect by DHL to its loyal employees.

A Dutch Court ruling means that postal delivery companies, Sandd and Selekt Mail (DHL) can continue to avoid collective contracts and can keep paying "piece" rates.  The companies won their case where they argued that they should not be forced to employ permanent staff.

Judges in the Hague ruled that the Economics Ministry cannot force them to employ delivery workers instead of paying them for every item of post they deliver.  

The deal to make Sandd and Selekt compete on more equal terms with TNT (the main Netherlands postal company) was one of the main conditions that the Dutch Government attached to the complete liberalisation of the postal market.

Under the deal, Sandd and Selekt Mail are supposed to employ under a collective contract, at least 10% of their delivery workers by April 2010 and 80% by 2012.  The Dutch unions along with TNT have argued that by paying workers piece rates, and not paying pensions, sick pay or holiday pay, that Sandd and Selekt are able to undercut TNT's charges and that they are social dumping.

A Ministry spokesperson, speaking about the Court decision, said the ruling is being studied carefully. Frank Heemskerk, junior economic affairs minister sad, "Paramount is that a 'race to the bottom' in terms of pay and conditions for postal delivery workers must be avoided."

On 15th December 09, Ken Allen, the CEO of DHL Express Europe announced that DHL’s Domestic Express in France will be sold to another company. The ITF and its French affiliates believe that the business has been bought by Caravelle, an Investment Fund, for some 200m Euros. We believe that Caravelle has little incentive to retain the 3,500 DHL staff affected by this decision and has merely purchased DHL’s operation in France to expand its own network and customer list. Despite Mr. Allen’s words praising the dedication of DHL French workforce, their future looks bleak.

The French Unions, with the help of other institutions such as the European Works Council and specialist Legal organisations, have made a counter proposal and have suggested a business reorganisation, which would allow DP DHL to keep its French domestic business. With this in mind, they have unsuccessfully tried to arrange a meeting with Mr. Allen. Mr. Allen declined the meeting on the grounds that a strategic decision has been made and there is no possible alternative.

The French Unions and the ITF are not taking this decision lying down and will consider their response on a world-wide basis.

SATAWU members and DHL employees went on a strike on 9th November 09, following the issue by the NBCRFI of a certificate of non-resolution, allowing them to embark on a protected strike.  The NBCRFI stands for the National Bargaining Council for the road freight industry. It has been formed by employers and unions for the purposes of centralised collective bargaining

This action was forced upon SATAWU members of DHL as they felt they had no other recourse but to strike to both support their shop stewards and to combat cultural and racial prejudice against DHL employees who choose to speak to others in African languages, rather than in English. Mosa Elephant, a DHL Express Shop Steward was suspended on 04 September 09 for this. They also took action to express their displeasure at particular members of the DHL Management, who have taken a hard-line against SATAWU.

Several DHL shop stewards have been dismissed by Local DHL Management for other “offences” such querying Occupational Health and Safety issues. Others have been sacked by DHL but have been since reinstated by the NBCRFI – something that DHL is appealing against.

Deutsche post DHL announced last Thursday that 788 jobs at DHL express European headquarter in Belgium would be re-located. 

Deutsche post DHL announced last Thursday that 788 jobs at DHL express European headquarter in Belgium would be re-located.  Accordingly, over the next two years, employees will be offered the possibility to be relocated to the DHL global headquarter in Bonn, the intercontinental hub in Leipzig or the IT centre in Prague.

It only took 17 minutes to the DP DHL management to announce the move of the DHL Express headquarter from Diegem and the loss of these jobs.

According to the unions though, more jobs will be affected, amounting to a total of around 900 jobs, including those from EAT. This represents around a sixth of the DHL workforce in Belgium, which has already been affected with considerable job cuts this year. 

Postal workers at Deutsche Post in Germany have won an agreement to extend their wage contract, ending a dispute that had been set to affect the Xmas holiday period.

The workers, represented by the ITF-affiliated German union, Ver.di, reached the agreement at the end of last month. The settlement includes a three per cent pay increase from 1 December 2009; a one-off payment of 320 euros for workers and 210 euros for trainees and apprentices for 2011, and a commitment not to change weekly working hours and or reduce wages for newly hired workers.

The agreement also stipulates a number of other elements, such as a promise not to outsource letter deliveries, an increase in the outsourcing of parcel delivery services from 880 to 990 districts, the retention of the existing van fleet until 31 December 2011, with the number of drivers to be reduced from 4150 to 3,600 through natural fluctuations and the guaranteed right of shift workers to special hourly breaks.

In addition, the contract prevents the company from laying off workers for operational reasons for an extended six-month period until 31 December 2011.

It is understood that the settlement will save the company 140 million euros over 2010 and 230 million euros over 2011.

Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator commented: “We are pleased that Ver.di was able to reach a satisfactory deal. Some of the terms that have been won will provide workers with crucial protection at a time of great uncertainty.”

The full agreement is attached here:

post-verdi-D.pdf  (45 KB)