ANY 2009 PAY RISE FOR DHL EMPLOYEES?
At this time the UDW are unrecognised by DHL because we have less of a membership within DHL than the current recognised union. This means that although we can attend and represent our members at a disciplinary, or grievance, and support you against many other employment issues, there are still parts of your working terms and conditions that are in the hands of others, which includes the negotiation of your wages. It is therefore down to the current recognised union to negotiate a decent pay settlement for DHL workers within the uk, but year after year they seem incapable of achieving this. For them to negotiate yet another poor pay increase this year would be nothing less than a failure on their part. We are now hearing rumours that there will be no pay rise this year at all for workers, despite earlier suggestions of a two and a half percent increase being bandied around many depots. We have written to the employer seeking clarification on this very important matter and requested the reasons as to why any offer for workers may have been withdrawn.
In order for the UDW to negotiate decent terms and conditions for all DHL employees we must gain a majority of membership and would urge all UDW members to spread the word and let their colleagues know just how badly their current union is performing now, and over past years. These are the reasons that the UDW was formed in the first place. The strongest message you could send the GMB today, is to let them know how disappointed you are in their failures by Joining Us Here.
CHANGES TO SICK PAY SCHEME
We are being informed that DHL appear to have struck a deal with the GMB union to change some workers sick pay entitlement. It would seem that this new deal while addressing workers employed after 1997 will be of great detriment to workers employed before this. This is a fundamental change to many workers terms & conditions and is of extreme concern to the UDW. We have today written to DHL seeking clarification and will advise you in due course of exactly what has been agreed and of steps we may take to challenge any breach in members’ terms & conditions.
DHL SERVICE CENTRE CLOSURES
DHL Express is planning to close five domestic service centres - which employ a total of 60 people - around the UK. The company is currently involved in a formal consultation with employees at the sites in Galashiels, Scotland Aintree, Merseyside Scarborough, North Yorks Basildon, Essex and Southampton, Hants.
A spokeswoman says the move is necessary due to "current market requirements", but that DHL is looking to find suitable re-employment opportunities for staff.
She adds: "These proposals are essential for maintaining a strong operation with the right framework and which will enable DHL Express Domestic UK to keep its market-leading position in line with rapidly changing customer needs".
All the redundancy packages on offer are voluntary and it is hoped only a handful of redundancies will be necessary.
The GMB Union would not make a comment while the consultation is taking place. DHL is also planning "substantial investment in a number of facilities" but will not release further details at the moment.
Source: RoadTransport.com
The UDW have written to DHL seeking further clarification and will accompany and represent any of our members affected by these closures (20th Jan 09)
UDW members affected by branch closures can contact us here.
DHL SELLS UK DOMESTIC PARCELS BUSINESS
DHL has sold its UK domestic parcel business to Home Delivery Network for an undisclosed sum. The UDW are writing to DHL as a matter of urgency to seek clarification and assurance on the security of employment of workers and their terms and conditions. We will of course advise you of any reply although please do bear in mind that they (DHL) often hide behind their recognition agreement with their ‘recognised trade union’ and will share little or no information with the UDW. We will however do our very best to advise and support our members through this time of uncertainty.
What is shocking and deeply disturbing is that the bargaining unit has shrunk to just 4,700 workers (according to Roadtransport.com’s statement). If this figure is anywhere near accurate then workers must ask some serious and searching questions of those with negotiating responsibility.
When the UDW’s executive were at the negotiating table, pre and post Securicor Omega Express, which ended in 2005, the bargaining unit was almost 11,000 employees! So where have the other 6000 workers disappeared to? This is surely a question that any employee that remains today must be asking themselves (and the current negotiating committee).
We negotiated a very good agreement that gave secure employment and rights to full time workers over self employed agents (the 1998 Self Employed Agents agreement). We are all aware that there are literally hundreds of self employed agents or service partners in DHL service centres, so how have they managed to shrink the bargaining unit down to only 4700?
In the interim do not sign anything. Do not attend any one to one meetings without the representative of your choice. If you find yourself in a meeting with any representative you did not request, walk out and contact us immediately! Assert your statutory rights at all times! The choice of representative is yours, not the employers!
A statement from HDN can be found Here or you can find more information at Road Transport.com. Alternatively you can contact DHL's recognised union using the link Here.
|
