UN plea threat in pay dispute - DHL

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AROUND 360 DHL staff are threatening to take a four-month dispute about pay and conditions to the United Nations (UN), if their demands are not met. Members of the company's Trade Union are planning to involve the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) if their salaries and allowances are not increased by June 27.

They want better wages, comprehensive insurance for employees and their family members, compensation for workers, a shift allowance for staff, a transport allowance and social allowance.

Union members initially set yesterday as a deadline for their demands to be met but extended it after a meeting with company officials.

Negotiations have been ongoing since February when staff complained about failing to get a "satisfactory" pay increase.

The involved include Bahrainis and expatriates and people working at all levels of the company, including office staff, management, drivers and sorting staff.

Employees earlier wore yellow armbands for 10 days as a symbol of their dissatisfaction with the negotiations between the company and the union.

They later switched to red armbands to symbolise that the dispute was in danger of escalating.

"The ribbons are sign for all DHL unions globally and they indicate dissatisfaction," said DHL Trade Union management head Shukri Hassan.

"The yellow armbands were an initial warning that we were dissatisfied but we switched to red armbands as a final warning that further action will soon be taken."

Mr Hassan said the union had contacted competitors to compare the transport, social, health insurance, heat (for those working outside and on aircraft) and housing allowances and average salary increases, which were all better at other firms.

"The company asked for an extension of the time frame to June 27 and the union management has agreed to delay action until then," said DHL operations controller Ahmed Ali.

"However, after that time, we will take our issues up with the ITF and ILO."

The London-based ITF aims to promote respect for trade unions and human rights worldwide and help affiliated unions defend the interests of their members.

"We're trying to calm things down and do things one step at a time and we can see some improvements from DHL management, which gives us a glimmer of hope," said Mr Ali.

"But we are still prepared to proceed with the steps we have already planned.

"We're trying to be flexible with the management, I know it's difficult for the company to meet all the requests at once but I'm mainly hoping for the salary increase."

Mr Ali added the union was still hoping to resolve the matter internally rather than involving the Geneva-based ILO or ITF.

DHL staff already have the backing of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.

"We had a meeting with the DHL union and we are supporting them," said deputy general-secretary Abrahim Hamad.

"It is important that DHL provides medical support for employees and their families.

"We are standing behind the workers even if they decide to demonstrate or strike."

DHL officials would only confirm the company was negotiating with the union.

"We are in discussions with the union and are committed to engaging with them to assure a positive outcome," the company said in a statement.