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In Mach 2011, the Austrian Trade Union vida started actions to inform UPS drivers about the success in Turkey and the new CLA for small deliveries



In the afternoon of the 23rd of March, the Austrian Trade Union vida contacted UPS drivers who brought return parcels to the sites of UPS in Austria. More than 20 colleagues stopped and gave their addresses for further information of the Austrian delivery network. Several drivers expressed their delight about the success of the Trade Unions in UPS Turkey. “Very visible was that the drivers describe their situation very negative”, says Harald Voitl from vida, “they suffer from long working days and high working pressure and would like to leave the branch.” Therefore the information about the new collective agreement for small drivers and the new minimum wages were important.



UPS reacted stressed by the presence of the Austrian Trade Union. Beside interventions at the local regional government (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) and the airport to avoid the presence of unionists at their sites, the management also instructed sub-companies to tell their drivers not to stop at the gate and talk with the Trade Union representatives.



Vida evaluated this action as a success. The tactic not to have “sales talks” but to talk about changes in the working situation combined with the possibility for drivers to organise for their needs and demands has been appreciated by the colleagues. The Trade Union has to be visible and considerable. In the next steps all drivers who left their addresses for further information will be contacted and the action will be expanded on other sites in othzer provinces of Austria.