In the collective bargaining dispute at Deutsche Post, thousands of postmen, parcel carriers and other employees have again stopped work to emphasize their demand for 15 percent more wages.
The Verdi union spoke of 6,000 participants in the warning strikes, Deutsche Post of 3,100. As with the warning strikes last week, the participation rate at the post office locations affected was around a third, according to company information. This time, Verdi struck fewer postal sites than last week, so the number of warning strike participants was lower.
According to the company, around 450,000 packages were left behind nationwide as a result of the outstanding deliveries, which was almost seven percent of the average daily volume. The rate for letters was 3.5 percent, i.e. 1.7 million. These shipments should be delivered by the beginning of next week at the latest – the exact time of delivery also depends on whether further work stoppages follow and the required sorting and delivery centers are affected. During the two-and-a-half-day warning strike last week, one million packages and three million letters were left behind, and around 30,000 employees stopped work.
Extension of the strikes possible
Thomas Großstück from Verdi NRW spoke of “very good participation”. The warning strikes were initially only planned for one day, i.e. until Friday night. However, an extension was possible. “It may well be that more warning strikes will follow in the next few days,” said the trade unionist.
The employee side is demanding 15 percent more wages for the approximately 160,000 employees in the postal sector
The spokesman for the Post reacted with incomprehension to the recent work stoppages. It has already been announced that an offer will be made at the beginning of the third round of negotiations on February 8th. Therefore, the warning strikes are “unnecessary because they ultimately only come at the expense of our customers”.
Swiss Post can look back on years of strong growth, which was also due to the corona pandemic: people ordered far more online than before. Parcel volumes fell somewhat last year because the consequences of the pandemic weakened and people went shopping again. The economic downturn also made itself felt. On the other hand, the mail business, which had been weakening before, picked up due to an increase in advertising mail. The prospects of the logistician are still positive in times of booming online trade. However, higher costs for energy, for example, are causing problems for the company.
Deutsche Post emphasizes that it needs financial leeway for investments – investments that will secure current jobs in the long term. If personnel costs rose too much, this could slow down investments and cloud the future.
Verdi refers to the high inflation
Verdi, on the other hand, refers to the performance of the workforce in times of the pandemic and to the high inflation, which necessitates a sharp increase in wages. “The strikes are a clear signal from our members towards employers,” said Verdi Vice-President Andrea Kocsis.
In the second round of collective bargaining last week, the employers made it clear that they were neither willing nor able to compensate for the employees’ real wage losses, said the trade unionist. “This is a provocation to which the workers are responding unequivocally with their strikes.” The group expects a record profit for 2022. “The company owes this success to the work of its employees,” says Kocsis. Against this background, too, the tariff demands are “necessary, fair and feasible”.
