Deutsche Post Confident of Quick End to Strikes

The chairman of Deutsche Post, Klaus Zumwinkel, said on Thursday that he expected a quick solution in the postal service’s labor dispute, although he described the union’s demand for a 6.5 percent pay increase as excessive. Still, negotiations had been making progress, and the warning strikes which have been held in several German cities since the start of the week were unnecessary, he added.

Mr. Zumwinkel was speaking at a general meeting of Deutsche Post. His comments came as the union that includes Germany’s postal workers, Ver.di, said its members would not report for Thursday’s late shift at 15 letter processing centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, potentially creating huge disruptions in mail service in Germany’s most populous state on Friday. Mr. Zumwinkel also said Deutsche Post was in no position to lower postal rates.