In the collective bargaining dispute with the Verdi union, Deutsche Post is considering outsourcing more of its tasks. “As Post for Germany, we have built up an operating model over many decades that operates exclusively with our own resources,” said Post HR Director Thomas Ogilvie to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “If Verdi now questions all of this against the background of short-term maximum wage increases, we will have to rethink our operating model.”
This would then also affect jobs. “If we can no longer invest sufficiently in new operating locations, the question arises as to whether we can and want to continue to operate these locations ourselves or whether we outsource them,” said Ogilvie.
In the parcel sector, the Post has 98 percent of its own value added in the delivery. “Operating and sorting centers are in-house. We have the letter delivery completely in-house,” said Ogilvie. So far, outsourcing of letter delivery has been contractually excluded until the end of June.
Collective bargaining for around 160,000 Deutsche Post employees failed last week. The Verdi union will have a vote starting Monday on whether to call an indefinite strike at the post office. Verdi is demanding a one-year contract with 15 percent more wages, which management considers to be economically unviable. Swiss Post offers a two-year collective agreement with various financial components. According to company information, for example, the entry fee of a parcel sorter would increase by 20.3 percent and that of a delivery person by 18 percent during this period. In addition, the tax-free inflation compensation premium should flow to a total of 3000 euros.
