News

UNI Global Union and the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) are inviting UPS to join them for talks, following the company’s announcement that it is to buy its global rival, TNT Express.



The two global unions will call on UPS (United Parcel Service) to extend its culture of cooperation with workers to its growing worldwide network.



UPS plans to purchase TNT for €5.2 billion ($6.7 billion). This will increase its presence in the global express market, particularly in Europe. UNI and ITF are requesting discussion with the company on the implications of the take-over, particularly with respect to the jobs and conditions of current TNT employees. The ITF and UNI hope to ensure that TNT and UPS workers are not pitted against each during the transition, and that UPS will respect the organising and bargaining rights of workers involved in the merger, and elsewhere in their network.



UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings said, “This purchase by UPS will create the world’s largest express mail and logistics company. The workers in this global giant deserve to be guaranteed workers’ rights.”



ITF General Secretary David Cockroft added, “UNI and the ITF will ask that the new, larger UPS sets an example to the logistics industry by negotiating with its unions around the world and entering a formal dialogue. We were pleased with the recent union recognition and the signing of a collective bargaining agreement in Turkey and hope that this positive example will show the way forward.”



Unions in the Netherlands and Belgium, including UNI & ITF affiliates, have already drafted a letter to TNT expressing their concerns about the purchase. Their letter appears at: http://www.itfglobal.org/ups_blog/?p=45