Alternative plan to rescue the DHL EUHQ presented by Belgian Unions
It was believed that a serious proposal should convince the Deutsche Post DHL management not to close the European Head Quarter in Belgium. The management had already admitted that this “re-location” is not a cost saving measure. As these changes were to make it more convenient to operate the business, 788 people will lose their jobs to make the lives of the Deutsche Post DHL management more comfortable. The argument of the company was that the European Headquarters should become more centralized, closer to the main company interface, with centralised pricing, tactics, and authorisation of solutions. In the meeting at the 18th of February 2010, Ken Allen and the Deutsche Post DHL management unilaterally closed phase 1 of the consultations on the closure and refused all arguments from Union side to keep the DHL EUHQ in Belgium.
The 4 main arguments against the closure from Unions’ side are:
The merger of global and European issues could cause problems mixing the work from the two levels. The operations which are proposed to move closer together, the Express Regional Head Office and the GCS, are not interacting more than any other Business Unit in the company. It would make more sense to look for synergies between regional operations as they have similar structures.
The distance is getting bigger between countries, national customers and the operation centre and this may cause misunderstandings and problems. In the sale process, DHL will lose proximity, personal contacts and customers. Where is the improvement for business partners? Furthermore travel costs to meet the customers will rise because of the relocation.
The movement from Diegem to Bonn or Leipzig includes also a loss of infrastructure and facilities from an operation already working well. This already exists in Belgium but will have to be built up completely new in Bonn. The global headquarters already has a space problem even without the addition of the colleagues from Europe. Deutsche Post DHL would need to rent new offices and build up a new infrastructure for the European operations in Bonn, Leipzig or Prague.
According to the information known to the Belgian Trade Unions, only 5% of the DHL employees in Diegem are willing to move. This means a loss of experience and knowledge for the company especially in the IT service and the handling with customer wishes. The circumstances, terms and conditions for people willing to move are still not clear.
The management has refused an open discussion with the employees and the Trade Unions and when discussing options with the workers have refused to present them with the two packages available, one for moving and one for redundancy. This means the people are not going to be presented with a real choice.
The management also refused today, the 18th of February to negotiate social plans with the Trade Unions for those who can’t move and will lose their jobs. As long as people are not clear about their future, the motivation is shrinking and the performance will shrink as well.
All these reasons will certainly lead to a loss of quality of services, more problems with customers and in the end the loss of customers, revenue and even more job reductions.
The DHL employees in the Deutsche Post DHL headquarter in Diegem decided today, in a staff meeting to start industrial actions supported by the Belgian Unions. They want a fair negotiation and finally clarity about their future.
UNI Post & Logistics is supporting the Belgian colleagues in any action and measures they are taking. We stress our solidarity and will help them with all possible resources in their fight for their rights. We demand respect for workers!