Deutsche Post wage agreement update
Deutsche Post has announced that the “comprehensive collective agreement ” that it has worked out with the trade union ver.di “will offer both security and new prospects to our employees, whilst simultaneously facilitating growth”. As previously reported, the recent postal workers’ strike came to an end after Deutsche Post and ver.di managed to agree a deal on Sunday (5 July).
In an official statement regarding the agreement, the German postal operator said: “Deutsche Post AG’s 140,000 employees will receive a one-off payment of EUR400 this year, with pro rata payments for part-time employees. On October 1, 2016, salaries will be increased by 2.0%, and by a further 1.7% on October 1, 2017. The agreement has a term of 32 months and shall remain in force until January 31, 2018. Weekly working hours remain unchanged at 38.5 hours.”
The statement also reported: “Employee protection against compulsory redundancies (including operation-related notice of termination pending a change in contract) valid until December 31, 2015, will be extended by a further four years to December 31, 2019. Assurances have also been given that mail and joint delivery will remain with Deutsche Post AG until December 31, 2018.”
For its part, the union conceded ground on the issue of the new parcel division.
The Deutsche Post statement noted: “Discussion on the DHL Delivery companies is now at an end. They are and shall remain part of the Post – eCommerce – Parcel division – and represent a platform and growth driver for Germany’s booming e-commerce business.
“The 7,600 parcel delivery agents are assured the continuance of their positions within Deutsche Post AG.”
Jürgen Gerdes, Board Member for Post – eCommerce – Parcel, commented: “What has been a tough and lengthy dispute is now over. I would call on all Deutsche Post colleagues to pull together and prove to our customers that we are not only still a powerful team – but also the postal service for Germany.”
