News

DHL Aero Expreso in Panama agreed to come to the negotiating table after members of the the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Aviación Civil y Similares (SIELAS), protested over the company’s breach of the collective agreement less than a year after it was concluded. The union claimed that violations included: failing to provide the workers with the tools they require to carry out their job or with safety equipment – the latter has reportedly been responsible for an accident; an unfair dismissal and outstanding pay issues. The union raised the issue with the labour ministry and showed a willingness to walk out on strike over the issue. Workers in Panama also showed DHL “the red card” in a campaign to highlight the contract breaches during the Women’s World Cup tournament, of which DHL was a major sponsor.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the company on 3 July, ITF organising globally coordinator Ingo Marowsky and UNI head of post and logistics Neil Anderson called on the company to rectify these problems immediately “so that a good atmosphere can be maintained in the relationship between the union and the company.”

As a result, the company agreed to come to the negotiating table and on 13 July, the union and the company came to a settlement on all the areas highlighted by the union, which DHL agreed had constituted a breach of contract.

Ivonne Jackelen of the ITF/UNI said: “SIELAS has successfully negotiated and pressed the company finally to comply with the agreement that was reached last year. People like Fernando Parfait in particular are doing an excellent job in Panama.”