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UNI and ITF brand DHL explanation for Guatemala dismissal as “convenient”

The ITF and UNI have criticised DHL management’s response to their complaint about the dismissal of one of its workers in Guatemala.

The response from Walter Scheurle, DHL’s Director of Human Resources dated 24 September claimed that the dismissal of Mario Sierra came about after a series of disciplinary warnings going back between two and five years. His sacking, he claimed, was not related to his union activity as stated by the ITF and UNI in letters to the company in September. He claimed: “Mr Sierra was issued three formal warning letters, including an important notice that continued poor performance on his part could lead to disciplinary action which could result in termination.”

Neil Anderson, head of UNI post and logistics, said: “It’s very convenient that they found five-year-old disciplinary letters (the last one two years old) and use them as an excuse.

“We need to know whether or not he received any more recent verbal warnings as our information is he was dismissed for trying to organise a union in the company.”

Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, added: “This case appears to be yet another example of DHL’s anti-union actions in countries beyond Germany. We will soon be revealing the full extent of DHL’s labour rights abuses.”