PostNL and unions reach agreement in principle on CLA

PostNL and the trade unions FNV Publiek Belang, Bond van Post Personeel, CNV Publieke Zaak and VHP2 have reached agreements in principle regarding the PostNL collective labour agreement (CLA) and the Saturday deliverer CLA. In a statement issued today (21 April), PostNL said that, in addition to salary increases in 2016 and 2017, agreements have also been made on phasing out the so-called ‘surcharge for irregular hours’.

The new CLAs apply from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2017. Employees will receive three salary increases over this period. First, employees will receive a 0.5% salary increase, effective from 1 January at the start of this year. On 1 July, a further salary increase of 0.5% will go into effect. The third salary increase of 0.5% will be calculated from 1 January 2017.

According to PostNL, it was also agreed that the surcharge for working on Saturday and working between 09:00pm and 10:00pm will be phased out within a year. Employees who are affected by the Saturday surcharge will receive a one-off compensation.

Herna Verhagen, PostNL CEO, commented: “I am happy that we have been able to reach agreements in principle with the trade unions that are good for both our employees and the company. It is important that, with these agreements in principle, we can respond to both the continuing growth of parcels and the decreasing mail volumes. These agreements fit with our company’s future.”

The trade unions will submit both the agreements in principle (the CLA and the Saturday deliverer CLA) to their members for approval – and the outcome of this membership consultation is expected to be known by the end of May.