DHL highlights need for airport logistics
DHL highlights need for airport logistics
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Royal Mail group launches health and lifestyle assessment services for its people
Royal Mail Group today underlined its commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of its people through two new initiatives that will give them easy access to healthy lifestyle assessment and coaching services.
An online health checking and assessment service is being launched to enable the 180,000 people working for Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide and Post Office Ltd to analyse their health and lifestyles and put in place improvement plans by accessing information on a range of areas, from nutrition to stress and exercise.
And the business is recruiting of a team of Health Trainers throughout the UK who will help fellow workers to improve their health through advice and practical support. Its work with the Department of Health in developing the Health Trainer scheme in the workplace leads the way for the implementation of Health Trainers by other UK businesses.
Royal Mail Group has been addressing the biological, social and psychological causes of absence and has introduced health and wellbeing policies on an unprecedented scale. Absenteeism at Royal Mail Group has fallen from seven per cent to five per cent in the past three years.
Initiatives have included:
• A group wide programme to reduce non-attendance and sickness absence focusing on management training and HR support
• Improving access and broadening occupational health support services to include physio and occupational therapy
• Communication and awareness raising programmes health promotion materials targeting smoking and back pain.
Berlin Administrative Court confirms: minimum wage not binding for TNT Post
In its decision in the case against the postal minimum wage, the Berlin Administrative Court today confirmed TNT Post’s interpretation of the law. The court ruled that the postal minimum wage of EUR 9.80 violates the German constitution. In November 2007, this wage was concluded between trade union ver.di and the Deutsche Post-dominated Employers’ association for postal services. In the opinion of the court the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs was not allowed to declare this wage generally binding.
The decision means that TNT Post is not obliged to pay the too high minimum wage under the ordinance passed by the government. However, the decision today is the important first step as the German State has, as expected already, filed an appeal against the decision of the court. The appeal process may take at least six months.
TNT Post will continue to pay the minimum wage to which it is bound under the collective labour agreement for value added services, as agreed by the Employers’ association for new postal and delivery services. At EUR 7.50, TNT Post is paying exactly the minimum wage demanded by ver.di, the Federation of German Trade Unions (DGB) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) for many years.
TNT has always been in favour of a minimum wage.
Read MorePostal Regulatory Comission – Strategical and Operational Plan
Dan G. Blair, Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, today formally released the Commission’s first Strategic and Operational Plan that details the agency’s vision and goals over the next five years. “This Plan outlines the strategies and activities that the Commission will use to help ensure transparency and accountability of the U.S. Postal Service and to foster a vital and efficient universal mail system,” said Blair.
The Plan incorporates responsibilities established by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) and will guide the Commission as it implements the key provisions of the Act. By emphasizing the operational work that must be accomplished over the next five years, the Commission will evaluate its progress and performance on the strategic goals outlined in the Plan. The report identifies seven key strategic goals, with short-term and on-going strategies: Modern Rate and Product Regulation – Establish and maintain a predictable, transparent, and effective system of rate and product regulation. Service Performance Evaluation – Ensure appropriate and transparent U.S. Postal Service performance standards and measurements to promote an efficient, effective and responsive mail service. Financial Accountability and Compliance – Ensure transparent, accurate and informative U.S. Postal Service data reporting sufficient for evaluation of financial performance. Complaint Process – Ensure U.S. Postal Service accountability through a fair and open public complaint process that provides appropriate and timely resolution. Public Participation and Government Relations – Ensure the Commission is visible and readily accessible to all stakeholders. – Human Capital – Ensure a system that fosters recruitment, development and retention of a talented and skilled workforce. Program Integration and Support – Utilize latest technology, operational systems, and organizational infrastructure in achieving Commission goals.
Read MoreCourt opposes minimum wage in German postal sector
A German administrative court said on Friday a minimum wage introduced in the country’s postal service did not conform with the law, handing a victory to competitors of Deutsche Post
The court said the minimum wage violated the basic rights of the plaintiffs, who are competitors of Germany’s main postal delivery firm and former state monopoly Deutsche Post.
Dutch mail company TNT NV and Germany’s mail services group PIN had taken legal action over Germany’s minimum wage, arguing it should not have been declared universally binding.
Europe’s largest economy introduced a minimum wage of up to 9.80 euros per hour for the country’s roughly 220,000 postal workers in January.
The German Labour Ministry said it would appeal the ruling.
“The government and Bundestag (lower house of parliament) decided last year to accompany the full opening of the letter market with a minimum wage,” it said about the introduction of the pay floor, which coincided with the end of Deutsche Post’s remaining monopoly for letters up to 50 grams.
Supporters of the minimum wage say public discontent about income inequality in Germany is growing, arguing that domestic demand needs a boost and that Deutsche Post’s competitors should not base their business models on workers earning a pittance.
But business lobbies say the minimum wage level favours Deutsche Post, which handles over 90 percent of letter deliveries in Germany and thus has huge advantages of scale.
Germany does not have a nationwide minimum wage. It is opposed by Chancellor Angela Merkel on the grounds that it would create new problems and could put jobs at risk.
Read MoreDeutsche Post CEO mulls tie-up of US express operations with FedEx
Deutsche Post World Net AG’s chief executive Frank Appel is mulling a tie-up of the company’s troubled US express operations with rival FedEx Corp, Financial Times Deutschland reported, without saying where it got the information.
Appel said yesterday he will present the company’s decision in May on the future of the US express operations, which have posted unspecified losses since the company entered the market in 2004.
There have already been repeated talks with FedEx head Frederick Smith, FT Deutschland reported today.
But to retain some leverage, Appel is also looking into a possible tie-up with regional US express mail companies, it said.
Read MoreASTAR pilots ratify contract
ASTAR Air Cargo pilots have ratified a labor contract with the company, concluding long and sometimes contentious negotiations.
About 88 percent of eligible ASTAR pilots voted on the proposal, with 93 percent of them in favor, according to ASTAR Air Cargo Capt. Patrick Walsh, chairman of the ASTAR pilots union master executive council.
Under the terms of the deal, ASTAR flight crewmembers will receive retroactive pay and more than 20 percent in pay increases during the course of the four-year agreement, according to a news release from the crewmembers’ union, the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA).
In addition, the pilots get furlough protection and a commitment from the company to secure new aircraft, the release said.
One aspect of the job security convenant in the contract prevents the company from laying off any pilot for the first two years of the agreement, which will go into effect Saturday.
The two sides began negotiations in January 2005, and since April 2006 the talks were held with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.
Read MoreFedEx Female Employees Shoulder Great Responsibilities
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, FedEx Express, is recognizing the accomplishments of women around the world. Female employees are key contributors to the culture and success of FedEx. In China, female employees account for 32 pct of the workforce, which is more than 6,000, and play an increasingly strong and significant role in various functional groups.
FedEx People-Service-Profit (PSP) philosophy offers equal employment opportunities to the best-qualified individuals for every job opening when hiring and promoting. FedEx also has in place a committed and sustained program that nurtures female talent and expertise, and actively helps women rise through the ranks and take leading roles in the company.
At present, nearly 40 pct of the managing directors and about 30% of the management team in Asia Pacific at FedEx are women. The overall, management numbers of women have been growing exponentially in the past three or four years.
The China market presents dynamic challenges and opportunities, in which women often must balance work and family.
Long-committed to diversity both inside and outside the workplace, FedEx recognizes the contributions of female employees around the world and continues to embrace diversity as vital to the company’s continued success in today’s dynamic global marketplace.
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