Tag: Europe

DHL and IBM develop IT logistics platform for Karstadt

Posted by | Dec 5, 2006 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain, the logistics specialist at Deutsche Post World Net, and the IBM business consulting firm Global Business Services have jointly developed a new IT-based warehouse-management solution for Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH. The value of the euro-denominated contract is in the double-digit range. Starting in mid-2008, 11 DHL locations will be equipped with the new solution, known as system platform logistics. Once the system goes into operation, Karstadt will profit from significantly improved logistics processes and falling costs.

In 2005, DHL took over responsibility for major portions of KarstadtQuelle’s logistics, including the distribution logistics for Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH. With the introduction of the new system platform Logistics, such core logistics processes as receiving goods, warehousing, picking, distributing and shipping goods will be modernized from the ground up. One single platform will administer and manage these processes. It will replace around 20 outdated systems, and provide enormous flexibility thanks to its modular design and guaranteed future. It will be initially used in all DHL locations where logistics services for Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH are provided.

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Portuguese postal service hit by strike

Posted by | Dec 4, 2006 | |

Transportation and distribution workers at Portugal’s state-owned mail company CTT have staged a one-day strike today over job security issues, which a union official said would delay mail deliveries.

The postal company said it would give priority to express and registered mail, as well as to the delivery of old-age pension checks and shipments of medicine, during the strike. Post offices were not affected.

The National Union of Mail and Telecommunications Workers called the strike to protest plans by CTT to shift its large-volume customers, who account for 70 pct of the firm’s revenues, to another company called Mailtec.

Union officials argue the measure would put between 300 and 400 jobs at risk.

Postal workers at Portugal’s three main sorting offices staged a weeklong series of stoppages during the last week of November over the same issue.

Postal workers have called a general strike involving all departments for December 27.

CTT employs some 13,000 workers. It handles around six mln items a day.

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Postal strike called off

Posted by | Dec 4, 2006 | |

A 24-hour strike by hundreds of Royal Mail sorting staff in Exeter has been called off just hours before the walk-out.

Around 400 members of the Communication Workers Union were due to stop work at the mail centre in Exeter Devon at 2pm on Monday.

Royal Mail was bringing in 450 managers to help maintain the service.

But a Royal Mail spokesman said they had been told the dispute was now off.

The stoppage was due to take place over a dispute over working practices at Exeter.

CWU spokesman Phil Chadwick said although the action had been called off, it could be on again next Monday if agreement was not reached at talks with the Royal Mail.

But he said good positive progress had been made in talks with the Royal Mail.

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Deutsche Post plans changes in parcel delivery

Posted by | Dec 4, 2006 | |

It is reported that Deutsche Post, the German national postal services provider, is planning to merge the parcel and mail shipment divisions and outsource other divisions of the parcel delivery division to external companies. It is feared that these drastic changes will entail further job cuts at Deutsche Post. From early 2007, the company does not intend to employ its own staff at 280 areas in parcel delivery. It is said that the operating division will be most affected, as so-called joint delivery, that is the combined delivery of mail and parcels by mail deliverers, is to be extended. Redundancies are ruled out until the start of 2008, however, owing to the employment pact agreed with German trade union Ver.di.

The parcel sector has come under great pressure from competition, whereas the mail sector accounts for the majority of the company’s profit. Last year, the company had turnover of 44.6bn euros, of which 12.9bn euros came from the mail division, and 18.3bn euros from the express division, which deals with parcel delivery.

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Deutsche Post plans major parcel restructuring in Germany

Posted by | Dec 4, 2006 | |

Deutsche Post is reportedly planning to merge its parcel delivery operations in Germany into the mail business in one of its largest restructuring moves for a decade. At the same time, unions are threatening strike action over plans to lengthen working times next year.

According to a report in German newspaper Die Welt, there would be only one delivery organization and one administration for both the mail and parcel businesses. At present, there are separate delivery organizations for parcels and mail in urban areas, while rural deliveries are bundled into one service. The 83 mail sorting centres and 33 parcel sorting centres that are no longer fully utilised could also be combined into one structure.

Unions Verdi and DPV said they feared a new round of job cuts among tens of thousands of staff affected by the move. Deutsche Post’s domestic parcel business is reportedly loss-making due to high operational costs of the parcel sorting centres and pay levels above those of competitors.

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