News

The ITF, UNI and DP-DHL have today agreed to a protocol, which commits them to continued dialogue on employment and industrial relations. The parties will meet four times a year and attempt to resolve issues in a mutually acceptable manner to avoid future problems.

Philip Jennings, the general secretary of UNI Global Union, said: “We acknowledge and welcome the central role of the German government in making this important protocol possible. This commits DP-DHL to the OECD Guidelines and to building a more productive relationship with the global unions. It is now incumbent upon all parties to make it work and deliver results for DP-DHL workers around the world.”

Stephen Cotton, the general secretary of the ITF, said: “This is a new phase in the relationship between the global unions and DP-DHL. All of us have a joint responsibility to convert this into something meaningful for DHL workers. What this agreement gives us is a more progressive industrial relationship that includes dispute resolution mechanisms, supply chain responsibility and reaffirms the right of workers to a collective voice at work without fear of retaliation. We will work with our unions to ensure that this agreement succeeds.”

Andrea Kocsis, the deputy national chair of ver.di (Germany’s United Services Union), has also welcomed the agreement with Deutsche Post DHL: “Based on the agreed protocol, the relationship between Deutsche Post-DHL and the global unions must grow so that we can use this dialogue to improve employees’ working conditions around the world.”

ENDS

For more information please contact:

At the ITF: Andy Khan-Gordon

Tel: + 44 (0)20 7940 9282 / +44 (0)7711 356 964
Email: khan-gordon_andy@itf.org.uk

At UNI: Stephen De Matteo

Tel: +41 79 778 1347

Email: stephen.dematteo@uniglobalunion.org