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In its meeting on 3 June 2009, the European Works Council Forum (EWCF) of DP DHL, chaired by Elmar Kallfelz, dealt in some detail with the company’s current policy in the economic crisis, and its effects on employees and jobs. In addition to the representatives of the international trade unions, UNI and ETF, the vice-chair of ver.di, Andrea Kocsis, took part.



As the country reports of the EWCF members made clear, massive restructuring measures, outsourcing/off-shoring plans, redundancies, work intensification and cuts in social benefits are much in evidence. It seems that reducing staff costs is management’s appropriate mantra to overcome the crisis. It seems that the economic crisis is also being used as a pretext to implement measures which have been lying around in managerial drawers for a long time.



Elmar Kallfelz: In the various countries, no one is showing much “respect” to the employees. Obviously some DP DHL managers act only in the interest of “results” and the shareholders. The victims of these plans will be the employees and their families, though they bear no responsibility for the crisis. Andrea Kocsis added that DPDHL, one of the largest employers in Europe and the world, should face up to its social responsibility.



The EWCF members agreed a statement which Elmar Kallfelz delivered the next day, at the meeting of DP DHL Forum, to the Board Member Personnel, Walter Scheurle, and the other management representatives who were present. This statement was accompanied by a spontaneous demonstration by all EWCF members under the motto “Pay respect to the employees”.



The EWCF demands new thinking from the Board of Management, to focus more on the interests of their employees: The body expects, in concrete terms, that



Ø redundancies on operational grounds will not be an option for management, and that every possibility of redeploying those employees affected within the Group will be examined and implemented (choosing intelligent paths).

Ø in the event of transnational plans, the EWCF, and on national measures the responsible employee representative bodies in the specific countries, will be involved in the decision-making process from an early stage.

Ø labour legislation in the countries will be strictly complied with, and socially acceptable solutions will be agreed in a respectful, consensual dialogue between workers and management representatives.

Ø out-sourcing and off-shoring will be utterly rejected as a way out of the crisis, since low wages and unacceptable working conditions must not receive any support from one of the largest employers.

Ø global minimum standards on the rights of employees will be agreed between DPDHL and the international trade unions.

Ø any staff who may be surplus to requirements will be retrained in a qualifications offensive to take advantage of the expected recovery (Fit for the future!).

Ø long-term values will once again start to play a role in the development of the Group (“stakeholder value”), and managerial salaries reflect this.

Ø necessary investments will continue to be made to improve operational business in the interests of customers, quality and the employees.