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UNI Global Union and the International Transport Workers Federation, which between them represent more than 20 million union members, raised their concern yesterday over DHL's abusive and unlawful labour practices around the world at the company's Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt.

UNI & ITF have continually held the company to account for its abuse of workers' rights around the world. In particular focus at this year's AGM was the ongoing abuse of DHL workers in Turkey, where dozens of workers have been fired and intimidated for joining the trade union Tumtis. The global unions have also shown that DHL is now sponsoring a yellow union in its Turkish facilities in an attempt to bust Tumtis and the workers's drive to join the union.



One fired worker from Turkey, Aysel Simsek joined UNI and ITF in Frankfurt to share her story with German media and DP-DHL colleagues from the German union ver.di. After fours years at DHL in Istanbul, Simsek was sacked for joining Tumtis. "I was offered a pay rise if I quit Tumtis," she said. When she refused, "I was fired because I fought for the basic human right to trade union membership."



Cornelia Broos, UNI Post & Logistics' policy officer, speaking during the general debate at the AGM, reminded DHL management that the world is watching: "As a European, and especially as a Germany company, Deutsche Post - DHL should be an ambassador for values like human and trade union rights. At the moment, it is failing to commit to those values around the world."



Ingo Marowsky, ITF global head - supply chain and logistics, also intervened during the general debate. He asked why the company has refused to work with UNI & ITF to resolve the dispute in Turkey. "We have invited you, Dr. Appel, to come to Turkey with us and conduct a joint investigation into your practices there. The courts have proven these workers were dismissed illegally. Work with us to resolve this issue!"



Alan Tate, UNI campaigns director, stated: “DHL’s tactics in Turkey are unlawful under Turkish labour law – and some of them may also violate its criminal code – and violations of ILO (International Labour Organization) conventions and other international standards on freedom of association.” 



He continued: “The company’s defence of its use of a ‘yellow’ (fake) union is indefensible. According to the official statistics from the Turkish Ministry of Labour released in January 2013 – when DHL were proclaiming it as a viable choice – this bogus ‘union’ had only 26 members in the entire country. Its creation is a cynical ploy, and it is now being actively investigated by the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation).”



UNI & ITF were joined by members of the ver.di Hessen branch in distributing information leaflets to shareholders as they entered the AGM.



You can view Cornelia Broos' speech in the Related Files tab.