Swiss Die Post and Trade Unions Agree on Social Plan

Swiss postal services provider Die Post and trade unions have reached an agreement on a social plan for the company employees, who will be affected by Die Post decision to cut the equivalent of 500 full-time jobs in its postal offices, it was reported on December 26, 2003. In mid-December 2003, Die Post announced its decision to cut the equivalent of 800 full-time jobs as of 2004. The move was attributed to the drop of Die Post revenue from postal services. The company plans to cut the equivalent of 500 full-time jobs in post offices and the equivalent of 300 full-time jobs of postmen by reducing working hours by up to 10 pct. The agreement envisages conditions for early retirement, severance payments for laid-off employees and compensations for working hours reductions. Die Post is currently negotiating with trade unions on a social plan for the postmen affected by the cut of 300 full-time jobs.