- Verdi prolongs strike warnings towards Deutsche Post's operations
In the wee hours of Wednesday night, a multitude of undelivered parcels and letters stayed put, sparking the postal union to amplify its push in the ongoing wage dispute with the postal service. Prepare for more strikes, folks. Verdi, the service union, is ramping up pressure in the wage conflict with Deutsche Post AG, urging a nationwide strike among employees in letter, parcel, combined delivery, and service branches at specific locations on Thursday. Previously, Verdi requested strikes from employees in parcel centers late Wednesday night.
"The employers' offer in the third round of negotiations is utterly inadequate," commented Andrea Kocsis, Verdi's deputy chairwoman and chief negotiator. "Accepting it would imply noticeable real wage reductions for employees." An enhanced proposal must be tabled at the following week's fourth round of negotiations, Kocsis insisted.
The chasm between proposals remains considerable
Verdi yearns for a 7% increase in wages within a 12-month contract, impacting around 170,000 letter carriers, parcel delivery workers, and other logistics employees. In contrast, Deutsche Post, part of the DHL corporation, proposes a 1.8% initial increase, followed by another 2% in a 27-month contract.
Moreover, Verdi stipulates three additional vacation days to compensate for the increased workload. While Verdi members would secure four, Deutsche Post only proposes an additional vacation day for employees who have less than 30 vacation days annually – approximately two-thirds of the workforce.
Countdown to negotiations begins on Monday
The initial three rounds of negotiations failed to produce a resolution. Scheduled for Monday is the fourth round. Deutsche Post emphasizes its intent to settle the dispute at the negotiating table.
Over the past few weeks, Verdi has instigated warning strikes in various areas, both in parcel and letter delivery. Consequently, delivery of shipments faced setbacks in certain locations.
[Reference(s)]:If you're keen to dive deeper into the subject, check out these enrichment insights:1. Current Status and Proposed Wage IncreaseThe ongoing wage dispute between Verdi and Deutsche Post AG revolves around Verdi's request for a 7% wage increase for around 170,000 employees. Deutsche Post has countered with a 3.8% increase over two years, resulting in projected real wage losses for employees if accepted.2. Strikes and Their Impact on Parcel and Letter DeliveryThe union has initiated warning strikes across various regions, affecting primarily parcel centers and postal services. These strikes have caused considerable delays in parcel and letter delivery. In the parcel sector, approximately 25% of the average daily volume was disrupted, while substantial delays affected about 10% of the daily letter volume in the letter sector. These strikes have been particularly noticeable in North Rhine-Westphalia, leading to disruptions in major cities like Cologne and Essen. The union's actions aim to persuade Deutsche Post to strengthen its offer ahead of the March 3, 2025, negotiations.
The Council of Deutsche Post AG is scheduled to meet on Monday for the fourth round of negotiations, aiming to resolve the ongoing wage dispute with Verdi. If the council's proposal does not meet Verdi's demand for a 7% wage increase within a 12-month contract, the postal union may escalate its strike actions, leading to further parcels delays and percentages of affected parcel and letter deliveries. Verdi's strike actions have already garnered support from over 170,000 employees, including letter carriers, parcel delivery workers, and other logistics employees, who are critical to the operation of the postal service and the parcels delivery service provided by Deutsche Post, a part of the DHL corporation.
