Tag: Europe

DHL Germany and RECARO sign partnership agreement

Posted by | Oct 19, 2007 | |

The partnership marks a new approach to combined modular production and logistics.
DHL Exel Supply Chain and RECARO have signed an agreement concerning the modular manufacturing and logistics of car seats. The logistics expert DHL, part of the Deutsche Post World Net group and Recaro, the manufacturer of premium seat systems for the automotive industry, will enhance their future joint development, procurement, assembly, warehousing and transport of premium car seats. The respective agreement was signed mid-October during the 24th German Logistics Congress in Berlin.

The partnership between both companies marks a new approach to combined modular production and logistics. Under the new business model, RECARO will contribute its core competences in the areas of development, marketing and distribution of car seats, whilst DHL will not just be responsible for all logistical performances but also for the assembly of the seat systems as well as the international coverage using module center sites in the vicinity of the car manufacturers and OEMs. Future customers will benefit from significantly reduced delivery times despite the fact that the product range is large and varied, and will also benefit from low cost structures.

It is planned that, at a later date, further components and systems for the automotive industry are to be provided by the DHL module centers in order to increase the total benefit for car manufacturers. That way, DHL supports a trend, which should enhance the companies’ competitiveness in this highly competitive industry. Manufacturers and suppliers will increasingly be able to focus on their core competencies and to outsource production and logistics processes to experienced service providers. For some time, DHL has specialized in providing assembly services for the automotive industry, including the pre-assembly of door side panels for the Audi A4 and A6.

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Transport strike brings France to a halt

Posted by | Oct 19, 2007 | |

The French walked, used bikes, shared cars, or took the day off yesterday for the biggest national public transport strike since 1995. Unions said the strike will continue today.
Service on most trains on the national network, metros in Paris, and buses in major cities ground to a halt after public workers went on strike to oppose a government plan to roll back their pension privileges. About 319,000 people at railroads, power and gas utilities, schools, and the postal service failed to turn up at work. The special pensions cost the state about USD 7.1 billion a year.
The stoppage marks the first union challenge to President Sarkozy, elected in May on a platform of cutting taxes, reducing the cost of pensions, and liberalizing labor. The pension changes require employees to work 40 years instead of 37 1/2 years to earn a full pension. Pensions will also be linked to the national statistics institute’s price index. Mr. Sarkozy wants the plan completed by 2012.

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IPC leads environmental sustainability initiative

Posted by | Oct 19, 2007 | |

The International Post Corporation (IPC) announced today at its bi-annual Board meeting in New York City, its plans to develop a three-tier program to address environmental sustainability among its member posts. The program will focus on developing common sector-wide definitions and measurement systems; conducting stakeholder research and communicating sector-wide advances in environmental sustainability throughout the postal industry.

“Climate change is no longer an issue of debate,” said Jean-Paul Bailly, chairman and CEO of Groupe La Poste in France and chairman of the IPC Board. “Two prominent areas for concern to postal operators and our industry stakeholders are the operation of extensive road and air transport networks and issues related to direct mail, a strategically critical business for posts.”

Mr. Bailly added, “Because of the sector-wide urgency of the issue, the IPC Board will devote its annual conference this May to develop a common environmental sustainability initiative and map the way forward for the postal industry.” The conference, Leadership through Sustainable Development: Postal Industry Challenges and Opportunities will take place on 29 and 30 May, 2008 in La Chapelle en Serval, France. CEOs representing 24 member postal organizations and several selected CEOs from both inside and outside the industry are expected to attend.

Last month, IPC conducted a members’ forum on the subject of environmental sustainability, where it was decided that IPC should take a leadership role in providing the platforms for members to come together to define the way forward for the sector.

IPC has been a leader in providing postal delivery measurement systems for nearly 20 years, we are the natural partner for the postal industry and it makes sense that we are the organization to develop a common system for environmental measurement and research among the posts,” said Herbert-Michael Zapf, CEO and president, IPC.

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Britain's Royal Mail, Union Halt Talks; Postal Workers Want To Scrutinize Deal Terms

Posted by | Oct 19, 2007 | |

Britain’s Royal Mail and its postal workers’ union have agreed last Thursday 18th October to temporarily suspend negotiations on the terms of a new agreement that will end their four-month dispute.

Union officials insisted on closely scrutinizing the details of the deal, including the 6.9 percent pay adjustment over two years for postal workers, before putting the contract to a vote.

The review of the terms effectively delays the signing of the compromise that will finally put the labor dispute behind them.

BBC reported that Royal Mail had agreed to meet the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to clarify outstanding issues, but it added that “the agreement reached and endorsed last Friday by CWU general secretary Billy Hayes and deputy general secretary Dave Ward stands.”

Marathon talks between Royal Mail and CWU last Friday resulted in an outline for a settlement of the dispute. Contested areas included pay, pension fund reform, retirement age and working practices and these were expected to have been ironed out in the settlement.

The union’s executives should approve the deal and thereafter, put it to the vote by the CWU’s 130,000 members. The vote was originally set for middle of this week had the union officials endorsed the agreement.

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Rural businesses are hit by postal dispute and the threat facing post offices

Posted by | Oct 19, 2007 | |

Postal strikes across the country have hit rural businesses hard and look set to put a number of people out of business.

Two one-day strikes, as well as subsequent wildcat strikes saw postal services disrupted for over a week – causing rural communication networks to come to a standstill.

Charles Trotman, chief rural economist for the Country Land and Business Association, said the strikes had been devastating for rural business.

In the South West alone, the strikes are expected to cost the rural economy up to GBP 10 million, according to Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

Mr Jones said the strikes could not have come at a worse time after rural businesses had already been hit by foot-and-mouth restrictions, fuel charge increases and the recent Northern Rock credit crisis.

The problems faced during the strikes are just the latest in a long line of problems faced by rural communities.

Plans to close many rural post offices have been met by fierce opposition from those who rely on the service.

Mr Trotman admitted that a compromise had to be found so that the service could continue to run as well as offer value for money.

One idea he and others have suggested is opening one-stop-shops for all Government services in rural areas, offering a postal service as well as assistance with tax and other issues.

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