Deutsche Post DHL's Race to the Bottom: Ver.di fights back

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UNI affiliate Ver.di, the German services union representing workers in Deutsche Post DHL, have begun industrial action today to fight back against DHL's announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs from the German post office. In March, DHL announced it was moving up to 10,000 courier and express delivery jobs out of the German post office and the existing collective agreement and reclassifying the jobs under a new company called "DHL Delivery." The change would mean those affected delivery workers would not benefit from the collective agreement in Deutsche Post, would lose their representation on works councils and would face a drastic reduction in pay. Ver.di announced today that it was calling for a reduction in working hours from 1-2 April as a first step in their fight against the company's proposals.

DHL's plans come despite an agreement with Verdi prohibiting the outsourcing of work in Deutsche Post's core functions. In an earnings conference last month where DHL announced massive earnings and an increased dividend, CEO Frank Appel said the changes mean future jobs will not be as good as current jobs in Deutsche Post.

Andrea Kocsis, Verdi's deputy chairman, said in a statement, "Deutsche Post AG employees are angry. Rather than make a serious offer in collective bargaining, postal management have threatened workers with the outsourcing of their jobs. This is intolerable and we will keep up the pressure."

UNI Head of Post & Logistics Stephen DeMatteo added, "The whole UNI family stands shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers in Ver.di in this first wave of warning strikes. DHL's plans are outrageous and unacceptable for a company that heralds itself as an Employer of Choice. Gone are the days where DHL's bad behaviour was left outside German borders. We urge the postal management to work with Ver.di to reverse these plans and preserve the workers' hard-fought rights in Deutsche Post."