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European aviation unions develop strategy on DHL crisis

3 July 2009

Union representatives from every airport hub in DHL’s European operations got together to build a strategy designed to address the impact of the company’s financial crisis.

Gathering at the ITF’s DHL European aviation hubs network meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on 1 and 2 July, representatives were told to expect cuts of 55 per cent across DHL Express. Management had announced that it was going to implement these not just in Europe but globally.

The participants discussed an effective coordinated strategy to support their members in the face of this news, which they would implement in the near future. The unions agreed that management had made poor financial decisions in the past and that workers were paying the price. Further bad management decisions could only be avoided if workers and their trade unions were effectively consulted and given the respect they deserved.

Liz Williamson, ITF assistant civil aviation section secretary, who attended the meeting said: “The company has resorted to this strategy, not only because of the impact of the global recession, but also because of the disastrous investment decisions taken by management in the US global delivery market. The company has written off billions of euros as a result of this exercise and now workers in the rest of the company are having to pay the price with their own jobs and poorer terms and conditions.

“Every hub reported cuts that have resulted in an intensification of work for those still with the company, and this is against a backdrop of further serious job cuts announced in DHL’s Brussels headquarters this week.”

European activities are among numerous campaign tactics adopted as part of the ITF’s world-wide engagement on issues in DHL, which is shared with global union federation, UNI.

As hubs and gateways around the world experience cuts, a dual approach both globally and regionally is expected to deliver optimum campaign results for workers and their unions.

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