DHL Works Council Condemns Labour Abuse in Turkey
Deutsche Post - DHL workers representatives from across Europe adopted a statement of solidarity at the recently concluded European Works Council Forum in Bonn. The statement addressed the ongoing situation in Turkey, where more than 20 DHL workers were terminated for their union activity and calls upon DHL to sign a global framework agreement to guarantee workers rights around the world.
The entire statement is as follows.
During its meeting on 20 November 2012, Deutsche Post DHL’s European Works Council dealt with the events at DHL in Turkey. At least 21 colleagues have apparently been disadvantaged and made redundant because of their union membership.
The European Works Council is concerned that the Board of Management is not doing anything to peacefully and amicably resolve the conflict between the trade union TÜMTIS and DHL Turkey. Instead, the Board of Management is confrontational and does not recognise the trade union and is awaiting court decisions. This situation is unbearable for the Deutsche Post DHL employees affected in Turkey. Moreover, this behaviour by the Board of Management, referred to in a report by the renowned US scientist Professor John Logan as ‘aggressive and unlawful’, is leading to a considerable loss of image for Deutsche Post DHL in Europe and the rest of the world.
In the Deutsche Post DHL Forum agreement’s preamble the Board of Management and the European Works Council agreed upon, amongst other things, the following: ‘the company respects the right of all employees to elect or nominated employee representatives. It maintains a constructive and trusting relationship with its employees and their representative bodies.’ Does this promise end at the borders with Turkey? We think not.
Together with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), UNI Global Union and ver.di we call upon the Board of Management to guarantee the rights of employees at Deutsche Post DHL worldwide and to finally sign a global framework agreement.
Furthermore we demand that the Board of Management make the DHL Management in Turkey peacefully end the intolerable situation at DHL Turkey.
Bonn, 20/11/2012.
The members of the Deutsche Post DHL European Works Council: