DHL to Reduce Number of Drivers in Germany

Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, is planning to reduce the number of drivers at DHL, its express forwarding subsidiary, through an increase in the use of subcontractors. The changes are expected to take place at the beginning of next year. Services sector union Ver.di fears that Deutsche Post may cease to use its own staff for DHL deliveries altogether. Currently, most of the 8,000 delivery staff are Deutsche Post employees. Deutsche Post is planning to merge its three express forwarding subsidiaries DHL, Deutsche Post Express and Danzas, which could affect up to 20,000 employees, although the group has declined to give figures. At least 1,600 jobs are expected to be cut, and redundancies are not ruled out. An agreement under which express parcel deliveries were to be carried out largely by DHL staff expired at the beginning of July. Deutsche Post and Ver.di are to hold decisive talks next week regarding staff reductions.