News

UNI Post & Logistics is angered to learn that a union in Germany (not a UNI affiliate) have made a deal with TNT in Germany that not only undercuts the minimum wage for German postal workers, but leaves the workers without a living wage and some conditions that do not even meet the minimum standards normally provided by German law!



This scandalous deal done by the Christian union CGT Post lacks any credibility and has been severely criticised by other post unions and workers in the company. In a recent article in the German journal, REPORT MAINZ, a 57-year-old who works for TNT as a delivery person company TNT said he is only paid to work for six hours a day, but he often needs to work for much longer. His hourly wage of 7.50 euros is not much to live on.



He told REPORT MAINZ that he would be living on the streets, if he did not have a partner who still earns good money.



A look into the contract agreed by this union is sobering. Wages of between 6.50 euros and 7.50 euros. Overtime pay only after the 211 hours in the month. Notice periods under the statutory provisions.



Employees can hardly grasp what was agreed.



The TNT worker (who did not want to be identified as he feared for his job however low paid!) when asked; "Are you satisfied with what you read in the new contract?" said;



"Definitely absolutely not"



Head of Post & Logistics at Ver.di, on e of UNI's affiliates, Andrea Kocsis said that this collective agreement came as a complete surprise. Ver.di, the largest union in the postal sector Germany was completely left out of the negotiations.



She said, "This collective agreement is in our view less than the legal minimum standards. For example the holidays, fall below the federal Holidays Act, where there are 24 vacation days and in this surprise collective agreement there are only 22.



Also Volker Geyer of the union for postal employees, DPV, is bewildered about what a Christian union has signed.



He has said; "The fact that now with wages of 6.50 euros in this collective agreement, it is wage and social dumping. And why the Christian Post Union has made this deal is beyond our understanding."



UNI Post & Logistics Global Union condemns this action by the union to undermine an agreed minimum wage and to negotiate an agreement which doesn't even reach minimum legal standards, this union should be ashamed to have done this scandalous deal, said Neil Anderson, Head of UNI Post & Logistics.



For the full report in REPORT MAINZ see; http://www.swr.de/report/-/id=233454/sgpaia/index.html