Deutsche Post agrees 4% pay rise for 130,000 workers
Deutsche Post has agreed a new 15-month labour contract with the union representing 130,000 of its employees, Ver.di. The deal, which runs until 31 March 2013, is based on a 4% wage increase from 1st April 2012.
The contract is the second half of negotiations with Ver.di, the united services union, after a deal covering working conditions was sealed back in October.
The 4% pay increase agreed will be for existing workers, since new entry-level jobs will start at a 4% lower rate under October’s agreement.
Trainees at Deutsche Post are set to receive a EUR 50 per month increase in pay in effect from January 1, 2012.
Also yesterday, Deutsche Post said it had agreed with Ver.di to contribute a 0.5% of salary level into its new “demographic fund”, which is being set up to fund a system of “partial retirement” that will allow workers nearing retirement age to work fewer hours without loss of pay.
Jürgen Gerdes, the Deutsche Post DHL board member responsible for mail, said the new deal recognised the “tremendous dedication” of employees in making 2011 a “very successful year”.
“I feel it’s important that employees working in this successful company have a reasonable wage increase, excellent working conditions and secure jobs. So I’m pleased we’ve succeeded with a package negotiated in several stages that is right for both sides – employees and management – that has now been concluded with Ver.di,” said Gerdes.
“Good result”
The wage increase now agreed with Ver.di comes along with e EUR 400 bonus that the two sides agreed last month on the way to yesterday’s deal.
Ver.di, which represents 2m workers in Germany including the 130,000 Deutsche Post staff, described the 4% pay rise as a “very good result” for its negotiations.
Andrea Kocsis, deputy chairman of Ver.di, said: “Our goal was a distinctly linear wage increase. The employer has recognised the dedication of our members.”
While wages at Deutsche Post are set to increase by 4%, the German postal service has been unable to raise stamp prices this year because of a restrictive price cap set by regulators at the tail end of last year.
