Tag: Germany

Deutsche Post, the German state postal service operator, is reported to have bowed to customer demand, and is said therefore to be planning up to 1,500 new branches in residential areas with more than 2,000 inhabitants. It will limit the reduction of mailboxes to 108,000 units, and more customer-friendly opening hours are envisaged. The company had been facing criticism over plans for extensive reductions in the number of mailboxes and limits to be placed on services provided in sparsely populated areas.

Deutsche Post World Net AG described the ver.di labour union’s demand for a wage increase of 4 pct as ‘unjustifiably high,’ as the first round of negotiations ended.

‘Certainly, many difficult rounds of negotiations await us,’ Walter Scheurle, Deutsche Post’s personnel director said. ‘At the same time, we will strive to reach a solution at the negotiating table, as has been our experience for many years.’

Negotiations will resume on May 14.

Brussels has warned Deutsche Post to make changes or face investigation over its monopoly in sorting letters under 100 grammes.

EU competition chief Mario Monti has sent the German postal giant a warning letter requesting Deustche Post come into line with EU law and open up its market. Currently, the collection, sorting and franking of all letters under 100 grammes is the reserve of Deutsche Post.

Berlin has confirmed receipt of the letter and has given signs it is prepared to make the necessary changes.

It has two months to respond to the EU’s queries.