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DHL workers in Colombia can count on ITF and UNI



Representatives of the Trade Union of Postal Workers in Colombia, STPC distributed flyers and postcards to DHL workers in Bogota as part of the global week of action.



“We are coming on behalf of DHL workers in Germany. At this moment activities are realized throughout the world so that all DHL workers get to know their rights and they want you to know that you are not alone.”



Eight STPC colleagues showed up at the entrance and exit of the main DHL Express building in Bogotá in the morning on 9 November. DHL workers received the material and were interviewed on their working conditions. Some asked for more information and embarked on a longer conversation about “Who are UNI and ITF”, “What is the global campaign about”, “What is a Global Agreement” or “How do unions improve working conditions”. In the afternoon the team went to the DHL Global side with the same mission.



Some DHL workers were afraid of talking to the union representatives, they were obviously nervous to be seen by DHL management or to be recorder by the security cameras.



However, Colombian DHL workers have been encouraged to contact a union if they feel that their rights are violated by the company.



Knowing about how dangerous it is to engage in trade union activities in Colombia, the key message to DHL workers was “You can count on us and we are not alone because on the global level UNI and ITF make companies respect workers rights especially for those working in multinational companies like DHL.”



In a follow-up to the UNI and ITF affiliates presence at the Expo Logistíca Panama in October this year, a local union was contacted by a DHL lawyer. This kind of intimidation is not to be tolerated and UNI and ITF talked immediately to DHL Headquarters in Germany. It was agreed to facilitated meetings with local HR managers of DHL and UNI and ITF representatives in Latin America in order to establish regional social dialogues and to ensure that unions and workers can exercise their rights.



STPC, ITF and UNI would welcome the initiative of DHL Colombia to invite to such a meeting because as it has shown on 9 November, their workers are afraid and they have concerns about their working conditions.