Postal strikes averted in the Netherlands

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Postal strikes in the Netherlands have been averted now that Dutch postal company TNT has reached agreement with the unions on limiting the number of forced redundancies announced by the company.

A drop in the volume of post had led to the announcement that 11,000 jobs would have to go. The announcement led to months of unrest and industrial action in the postal sector. Taking natural job turnover into account, this would have meant 4500 forced redundancies. However under the new deal 1700 jobs will be saved in TNT's Parcel Services and Auto Unit.

TNT has also promised to look at the possibility of saving another 200 jobs. Another 300 employees will be offered temporary work until the end of 2013.

A spokesperson for the postal company which faced a three-day strike last week declined to name the actual number of forced redundancies. Although a simple calculation means up to 2800 people could be made redundant involuntarily.

The company and the unions have also agreed on outplacement schemes to prevent at least another 500 people ending up out of work. TNT and the unions say they hope they can rely on the support of the government to realise their plans.



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