Time for DHL to Respect the Court Decision

DHL Double Standards: It is Time for the Delivery Giant to Respect the Court Decision

Friday 8 June 2018 sees a worldwide day of protest against global logistics giant, Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL). This has been organised as DHL Express Turkey refuses to recognise its workers’ union, TÜMTIS, despite getting legal recognition from the Turkish Minister of Labour and gaining enough members. Additionally, this behaviour breaks DHL’s own promise, made to international unions, that it would negotiate fairly with representatives in every country of operation.

Today workers around the world stand up and say enough is enough. The European and International Transport Workers’ Federations (ETF and ITF) have launched a day of solidarity actions. Protests at DHL workplaces, letters to DHL management and online support for DHL workers will pressure the company to do the right thing.

DHL Express Turkey is delaying union recognition with legal appeals, while bullying and dismissing union members. They aim to get TÜMTIS membership below the 40% needed for official recognition, but brave union members are standing strong.

Workers have now been on the picket line outside the DHL Express depot in Istanbul for over 330 days, since 17 July 2017. Speaking at the picket line on a recent trip to Istanbul to support the striking workers, Belgian MEP Kathleen van Brempt said: “DHL Express should not use double standards and discriminate against workers in Turkey.

“I would say to these companies, do not use double standards, we will not allow that. A worker in Turkey is not of lesser importance and does not have lesser rights than a worker in Europe.”

This week, on Tuesday 5 June, Turkish courts confirmed TÜMTIS as the representative trade union at DHL Express and refused DPDHL’s discretionary objection. President of the ETF, Frank Moreels, said: “DHL Express Turkey needs to stop its games. Turkish courts are not friendly to trade unions, but they have now ruled twice in favour of TÜMTIS.

“At the global level, DHL has promised to recognise unions, so there is no reason to delay. The world is watching DHL break its promises and ignore the law. Now our global action day will send solidarity to the workers and a strong message to DHL management. Get to the negotiating table, now!”

Timeline

• February 2017: The Turkish Ministry of Labour issued the official protocol to recognise TÜMTIS at DHL Express in, after registering all DHL Express trade union members.

• 8 March 2017: DHL Express management objected and filed a lawsuit. They also fired 9 workers who joined TÜMTIS.

• 17 July 2017: The union was left with no option but to begin strike action on 17 July 2017.

• 29 March 2018: ETF and ITF delegation joins protest in Istanbul.

• 5 June 2018 the Turkish courts rule in favour of TÜMTIS. DHL must now decide whether to appeal this second ruling.

The protocol

DHL Express Turkey’s shameful anti-union behavior is all the more shocking because it breaches a protocol signed in 2016 between parent company Deutsche Post DHL – which is over 20% owned by the German state - and global unions ITF and UNI Global. In the agreement “DP DHL acknowledges the right of all employees to join…a union of their choice.”

The action day

On Friday 8 June 2018 workers and unions around the world will send a message to DHL, insisting they do not appeal the court ruling and recognise TÜMTIS.

Check out #DHLDoubleStandards and www.dhlblog.com for updates on the actions and statements.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) creates borderless solidarity among transport workers in every corner of the globe. We support 670 affiliate trade unions to passionately campaign for transport workers' rights, equality, and justice in 140 countries. We are 19.7 million voices. We stand together. We are ITF.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) embraces transport trade unions from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Central and Eastern European countries. The ETF represents more than 5 million transport workers from more than 230 transport unions and 42 European countries.

ENDS

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