German and Swiss postal workers threaten further disruptions

Deutsche Post has rejected union demands, and the Swiss postal union has warned that failure by Swiss Post management to make concessions could result in further nationwide action.

Deutsche Post workers have not ruled out further work disruptions to protest against benefit cuts to 67,000 employees.

Post offices in Hamburg were closed last Monday for an employee gathering to challenge Deutsche Post’s decision to cut the Christmas and holiday bonuses of the civil servants, who account for about 25% of its staff, in accordance with austerity measures ordered by the German government for its own employees.

The civil servants object to the cuts saying they work for a private company – albeit majority owned by the German government – that is making a profit.

But Deutsche Post management has rejected a demand by Ver.di, the services sector union, saying that by law it could not afford its own civil servants special treatment. Ordinary Deutsche Post employees, who do not enjoy the same benefits as their civil servant colleagues, will not have their Christmas and holiday bonuses cut.

Elsewhere in Europe, Swiss postal workers in Bern, Zurich, Basel and other cities and towns, staged a protest action on Friday to demonstrate against a major cost-cutting programme and plans to scrap their collective labour contract. A two-hour work stoppage also took place in Geneva, Lausanne, Biel, Lucerne, St Gallen and in canton Ticino.

The Communications Union claims changes planned by Swiss Post to the collective work contract will lead to increased hours, lower wages and the dismantling of a public service. The company has said it wants to introduce a regional salary system and a 41-hour week.

The current collective contract runs out at the end of the year; negotiations between Swiss Post and the union are due to start this month.

The Swiss Post Office says that drastic measures must be undertaken for it to remain competitive in a liberalised market. Earlier this year, the company announced a major restructuring plan affecting its mail, logistics and transport units, saying it would close post offices and outsource work, potentially resulting in more job losses on top of the 3,000 announced last year. At the time, Swiss Post director Ulrich Gygi said postal workers were overpaid – a remark that aggravated the trade unions who claimed it was provocation.

The union warned on Friday that there would be further nationwide action on April 21 unless management made concessions.