News

DHL sustainability report a ‘fairy tale’



Workers and trade unionists from around the world demonstrated at DHL’s AGM in Frankfurt against the disregard of fundamental labour rights demonstrated in some countries where the company operates. Performers dramatised the use by local management in some countries of lie detector tests and intimidation.



At the annual general meeting this morning DHL’s recently published Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2010 was on view. It extols DHL's responsibility to its employees. “Are we talking about (DHL CEO's) Appel's CSR report or a Grimm's fairy tale?” Ingo Marowsky, organising globally coordinator  for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), asked during the AGM’s shareholders’ questions. 

 

DHL's management has been confronted in the past year with the use of lie detector tests in Panama and Costa Rica and has promised improvement. But the unions pointed to new cases in Colombia and South Africa. “The result of this practice is fear, unemployment and social exclusion, as employees struggle under unwarranted suspicion”, explained Ivonne Jackelen, lead organiser for UNI Global Union in Central America.

 

 Edwin Velasquez Ayala of Colombia was the victim of such a lie detector test carried out by former military officers. “The test carried out by DHL split my life in half. It destroyed my self esteem completely,” said Velasquez, who was subsequently fired with no reason given.

 

 In addition to the lie detector tests, DHL workers and trade unionists revealed other practices of the DHL Group. DHL suppresses the work of unions in many countries, they said. In Guatemala, for example, DHL employees will be fired directly if it becomes known that they have met with trade unionists. “It's pursuit. Union equals firing," said Dario Morales, who works to organise the logistics industry. “Fear is mounting and no one can afford to lose their job.” 

 

UNI and the ITF are demanding DHL sign an international framework agreement, which guarantees all of their 400,000 employees worldwide a minimum level of workers' rights.