Global unions meet in Frankfurt to hold logistics giants to account
News Release
International Transport Federation (ITF)
May 23, 2011
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META content="text/html; charset=unicode" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18904"></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Two
world trade union federations will meet in Frankfurt this week as part of their
mission to hold the big five worldwide logistics companies to account <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>– and will make their presence felt at
DHL’s annual general meeting in the city too.</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"
lang=EN-GB><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:stockticker
w:st="on">UNI</st1:stockticker> global union’s joint global delivery network
will meet on 23 to 24 May as part of their oversight of how DHL,
<st1:stockticker w:st="on">UPS</st1:stockticker>, <st1:stockticker
w:st="on">TNT</st1:stockticker>, FedEx and DPD Geopost treat their
workers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">In
a special event the day after the conference, 25 May, delegates will hold a
rally at 08.30 outside the DHL <st1:stockticker w:st="on">AGM</st1:stockticker>
at the Kultur-und Kongresszentrum (<A
href="http://www.jahrhunderthalle.de/">www.jahrhunderthalle.de</A>), and also
put questions on the treatment of workers and their rights direct to the meeting
inside.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>The global delivery network has already built solidarity and aims to
further expand union rights in the big five logistics giants. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Its
Frankfurt meeting is intended to deal with the companies on the matter of
workers’ rights worldwide, with the aim of ensuring that all their personnel are
well treated and can choose their union and representatives, wherever they work
in the world.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Ingo
Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, explained: “This meeting is about
strengthening alliances. In the last year alone we have fought for and won the
reinstatement of Turkish workers at <st1:stockticker
w:st="on">UPS</st1:stockticker> sacked by local management for, it seems,
wanting to join a union, while </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB>DHL
workers in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Panama</st1:place></st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> also
achieved union recognition and collective bargaining agreements. At the same
time, though, <st1:stockticker w:st="on">TNT</st1:stockticker> workers in
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> have voted for industrial
action seeking a fair contract. And FedEx workers in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> are seeking
union representation and an end to false self-employment.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He continued: “It is unacceptable to provide decent conditions and
union representation in, say, the country in which you’re headquartered, and
evade these things elsewhere. We simply have to resist those kinds of double
standards, and that is what this meeting is about.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><st1:stockticker w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>UNI</SPAN></st1:stockticker><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB> global
union head of post and logistics, Neil Anderson, commented: “The joint
ITF/<st1:stockticker w:st="on">UNI</st1:stockticker> global delivery network is
growing in size and influence, and is ready to hold these companies to account
until all their workers are guaranteed the same fundamental rights. As we keep
reminding DHL, the best way to achieve that is by a global framework <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>agreement – a global player needs a
global agreement.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He continued: “The question of labour relations is one that we will
be vigorously putting to the company on the
25<SUP>th</SUP>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META content="text/html; charset=unicode" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18904"></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Two
world trade union federations will meet in Frankfurt this week as part of their
mission to hold the big five worldwide logistics companies to account <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>– and will make their presence felt at
DHL’s annual general meeting in the city too.</SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"
lang=EN-GB><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:stockticker
w:st="on">UNI</st1:stockticker> global union’s joint global delivery network
will meet on 23 to 24 May as part of their oversight of how DHL,
<st1:stockticker w:st="on">UPS</st1:stockticker>, <st1:stockticker
w:st="on">TNT</st1:stockticker>, FedEx and DPD Geopost treat their
workers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">In
a special event the day after the conference, 25 May, delegates will hold a
rally at 08.30 outside the DHL <st1:stockticker w:st="on">AGM</st1:stockticker>
at the Kultur-und Kongresszentrum (<A
href="http://www.jahrhunderthalle.de/">www.jahrhunderthalle.de</A>), and also
put questions on the treatment of workers and their rights direct to the meeting
inside.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>The global delivery network has already built solidarity and aims to
further expand union rights in the big five logistics giants. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Its
Frankfurt meeting is intended to deal with the companies on the matter of
workers’ rights worldwide, with the aim of ensuring that all their personnel are
well treated and can choose their union and representatives, wherever they work
in the world.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Ingo
Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, explained: “This meeting is about
strengthening alliances. In the last year alone we have fought for and won the
reinstatement of Turkish workers at <st1:stockticker
w:st="on">UPS</st1:stockticker> sacked by local management for, it seems,
wanting to join a union, while </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB>DHL
workers in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Panama</st1:place></st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> also
achieved union recognition and collective bargaining agreements. At the same
time, though, <st1:stockticker w:st="on">TNT</st1:stockticker> workers in
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> have voted for industrial
action seeking a fair contract. And FedEx workers in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> are seeking
union representation and an end to false self-employment.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He continued: “It is unacceptable to provide decent conditions and
union representation in, say, the country in which you’re headquartered, and
evade these things elsewhere. We simply have to resist those kinds of double
standards, and that is what this meeting is about.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><st1:stockticker w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>UNI</SPAN></st1:stockticker><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB> global
union head of post and logistics, Neil Anderson, commented: “The joint
ITF/<st1:stockticker w:st="on">UNI</st1:stockticker> global delivery network is
growing in size and influence, and is ready to hold these companies to account
until all their workers are guaranteed the same fundamental rights. As we keep
reminding DHL, the best way to achieve that is by a global framework <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>agreement – a global player needs a
global agreement.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-AUTOSPACE: ideograph-numeric; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-GB>He continued: “The question of labour relations is one that we will
be vigorously putting to the company on the
25<SUP>th</SUP>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>