Unions call ‘foul’ on World Cup sponsor DHL

24 June 2011
Unions call ‘foul’ on World Cup sponsor DHL

Two global union federations will show the red card to Women’s World Cup sponsor Deutsche Post/DHL, in a campaign targeting its involvement in the tournament which is taking place in Germany from 26 June to 17 July.

When Germany hosts the Women's World Cup, Deutsche Post will be cheering along as major sponsor. However, UNI global union and the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) will accuse the German-based multinational’s subsidiary, the logistics giant DHL, of committing fouls against its own team.

UNI and the ITF say that Deutsche Post is using the Women’s World Cup to present itself as a company that fights for human rights, equality and fairness. Yet, they allege, employees around the world report that DHL regularly violates these principles – and they have listed those accusations in a handy World Cup planner that they will be distributing at matches (see attached).

UNI global union head of post and logistics, Neil Anderson, explained: “Just last month we laid out a range of complaints made by DHL workers worldwide alleging that they had suffered intimidation, wrongful dismissals, low safety standards, scare tactics and general exploitation. Some had even been made to take lie detector tests. Meanwhile in some countries outside Germany trade unions struggling to improve working conditions had been suppressed.”

Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, commented: “DHL's record is about as far from fair play, human rights and equality as you can get, and that’s why, as part of this campaign for change, we’ll be handing out a ‘fixture list’ of World Cup competitor nations where DHL is reported to have fouled its own team.”

DHL employs 470,000 people worldwide.

The fixture list states:

Canada
DHL workers were threatened with job losses if they did not agree to contract concessions. Finally, after an agreement was signed, DHL ignored the agreed-upon payments and continued requiring 10 hour work days.

Colombia
In Colombia, DHL used former military personnel to administer lie detector tests to its workers. The interrogations put workers under extreme stress and were often followed by firing. DHL has refused to end its use of the controversial polygraph tests.

New Zealand
In New Zealand, DHL initially refused to extend the collective bargaining agreement to cover women – mostly from Polynesia – who were working as clerks and administrators. After the women organised to fight back against this unequal treatment the issue was finally resolved months later.

Norway
DHL recently fired a Norwegian union activist, citing unexcused absences as a cause. Yet the activist is sure that it was her trade union work that was what was really causing problems for DHL.

USA
In the USA, DHL has twice been found to be in violation of the country´s labour laws for using “restraint, interference and coercion” and denying workers the right to freely choose union representation.

Germany
In Germany, trade union activity is allowed, so no one has to worry that it might lead to an unfair dismissal. Employees are represented through workers’ councils and are able to set their wages by collective bargaining. DHL's responsible record in Germany contrasts with its exploitative conduct abroad.

This is how DHL can play fair!
UNI and the ITF are calling on DHL to play fair and respect its employees. These are the goals we are asking for:
- the signing of a global framework agreement that will guarantee all 470,000 DHL employees worldwide the same minimum standards,
- trade union representation,
- the promotion of women to leadership positions and
- the consistent observance of human and labour rights.

For more details see: www.respect4workers.org, www.dhl-campaign.de, www.dhl-kampage.de or, after 17:00 today: www.facebook.de/dhl-campaign

ENDS

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