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Nordic Unions demand respect for global delivery workers

Published: 6 October 2010
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 Nordic Unions demand respect for global delivery workers



Trade Unions from Denmark, Norway and Finland tell participants of the PostExpo in Copenhagen about working conditions in DHL



It was a big furore at the PostExpo in Copenhagen, when at the first day of the exhibition, the day when several CEOs from postal companies all over the world were expected, unionists from the northern European Unions gathered in front of the main entrance.



This is one in a number of actions that have been organised this week to demand respect for workers in DHL and the global delivery companies all over the world. Leaflets, DVDs and postcards were distributed to the participants. Most of them reacted positively to the issues being raised by the union protestors. Nevertheless it seems that some postal operators are still afraid of Union activities. After a short period, security banished the activists from the area of the Bella Centre in Copenhagen and threatened to call the police and to demand they arrest the protestors. 



Odd-Christian Overland, General Secretary of the Norwegian Postal Trade Union Postkom explains: ”The Deutsche Post DHL management should know, we are everywhere. The Trade Unions will blame them for their behaviour where they don't respect workers rights on any occasion, no matter if at their AGM or at the PostExpo. We want good working conditions and a real social responsibility policy in the company and we demand that the DHL management sign a global framework agreement with UNI and the ITF to prove their willingness.”



”CEOs and managers of big postal companies have a huge influence not only on the national postal market but also on the regulation authority and the government. If the pressure to include social regulation, control it and punish them who don’t follow the law, comes also from them and not only from the Unions it would make a big difference. Also postal companies should take their responsibility to guarantee an equal level playing field in the post and logistic sector with good social conditions for the workers. That’s why we are here,” says Cornelia Berger, policy officer for Post & Logistics in UNI Europa.



For more information on the campaign go to: www.respect4workers,org

Despite the shortness of the action in the morning, the campaign reached a lot of postal managers and raised their attention. In the afternoon the Unions have invited the local and national Press to a press-conference in the Danish union 3F to explain the meaning of the campaign, global agreements and why it is important to demand it all over the world.