ver.di requires jobs to be booked through a home office option
The announced closure of DHL Express Customer Service (DECS) in Hamburg on July 31, 2025 has met with sharp criticism from ver.di. Accused of a “streamlining process,” 70 highly qualified jobs in Hamburg are to be cut, even though the organization is in an excellent economic position. The DHL Express division achieved sales of around 18.3 billion euros and a profit of around 2 billion euros in the first nine months of 2024 – a clear sign of financial strength.
DECS is a subsidiary of the DHL Express division and operates locations in Hamburg, Monheim (NRW) and Frankfurt am Main. The focus is on national and international customer services. “The group’s decision to close the Hamburg location is unthinkable and completely unacceptable given the excellent economic situation of DHL Express,” confirms Lars-Uwe Rieck, ver.di Head of Postal Services at ver. .of Hamburg.
The works council is currently negotiating a social plan and settlement of interests with the labor law firm Gussone/Lewek/Kenkel. The other options suggested by the employer for continued employment in Monheim or Frankfurt am Main are not feasible for the majority of employees due to family and logistical reasons. Experience shows that the work of the affected colleagues can be done from home without any problems – a solution that could prevent layoffs.
To emphasize their protest, ver.di Hamburg is organizing a rally at the work meeting:
Date: November 21, 2024 | Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Osterbekstrasse turning circle, house number 92
In addition to Lars-Uwe Rieck, Norbert Behn, the chairman of the operating group, will also speak. Colleagues from Deutsche Post Customer Service and DHL Express Germany from Hamburg-Allermöhe have expressed their solidarity and will participate in the rally.
“We are asking the agency to reconsider the proposed closures and come up with real alternatives.” The jobs can be maintained through the regular use of home offices without the employees and their families falling into social isolation,” concluded Rieck.
2024-11-20 18:00:00
#Suspend #operations #DHL #Express #Customer #Service #Hamburg
Becky: Additionally, the negotiation process is crucial for ensuring transparency and fairness in how the company implements any changes. We believe that a strong social plan is essential not just for immediate support but also for maintaining employee morale and trust within the organization.
Great, let’s begin the interview! Could you introduce yourselves and your roles in ver.di?
Gustave: I am Gustave, the ver.di Works Council member for DHL Express Customer Service in Hamburg.
Becky: Hi, I’m Becky, the Head of Communications for ver.di Hamburg.
Thank you for joining us today. Let’s dive into the article. Firstly, can you explain why ver.di is critical of DHL’s decision to close down its Customer Service operations in Hamburg, specifically when the company has posted strong financial results?
Gustave: Certainly. While we understand the importance of a strong financial position for the company, we believe that this decision is a prime example of a cost-cutting measure that prioritizes profits over workers’ livelihoods. It’s crucial for DHL to consider the human impact of their decisions, particularly when it comes to highly qualified employees.
Becky: Absolutely. It’s also important to note that DHL Express has made significant investments in its logistics infrastructure, and I think that makes their choice to cut these jobs even more puzzling.
Moving on to the issue of home offices, you mentioned that experience shows that the work can be done remotely without any problems. Can you elaborate on this?
Gustave: Yes, our experience over the last two years has shown that many jobs within the company can be successfully transitioned to a home office setting. In fact, during the pandemic, we had many employees who were able to work effectively from home, proving that this option is viable. We are asking DHL to reconsider giving home office work a more significant opportunity for these affected employees.
Becky: That’s correct. The pandemic has shown us that remote work can be just as productive, if not more so in some cases. It’s also important to consider the benefits for employees, such as greater flexibility and potentially reduced commuting times.
The article also mentions that the works council is negotiating a social plan and settlement of interests. Could you provide an update on these discussions and their potential impact on the affected employees?
Gustave: Yes, we are currently in discussions with the labor law firm Gussone/Lewek/Kenkel to develop
