Tag: Deutsche Post

Deutsche Post World Net AG could lose its domestic monopoly to deliver mail weighing less than 100 grams prior to 2007, according to a German government letter.

German Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement wrote to EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti and promised to change the law, ‘without delay,’ although he did not specify an exact date.

Deutsche Post, the German postal service, is expected to face increasing competition in services involving the collection and sorting of letters. Until now, the company has refused to allow competitors to collect and sort letters weighing less than 100g; discounts are granted only to major customers. However, the EU believes that this is an infringement of guidelines on the liberalisation of postal services. Wolfgang Clement, the German minister of economic affairs, has now agreed to amend the law on postal services in Germany in order to open up the market for the collection and sorting of letters.

Ver.di union members employed by Deutsche Post AG have concluded a warning strike this morning in the federal states of Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thueringen, that could result in the late delivery of about 600,000 pieces of mail, the union said. Ver.di members are participating in the warning strikes because Deutsche Post has not made them a formal offer after two rounds of wage negotiations. The union is seeking a 4percent wage increase for 160,000 Deutsche Post employees covered under the union’s previous salary agreement.

Ver.di union members employed by Deutsche Post AG are planning more warning strikes following a work stoppage in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a union spokeswoman said without mentioning further details.

Ver.di members are participating in the warning strikes because Deutsche Post has not made them a formal offer after two rounds of wage negotiations. The union is seeking a 4percent wage increase for 160,000 Deutsche Post employees covered under the union’s previous salary agreement.