Deutsche Post: Verdi Strike Threat is Absurd

Deutsche Post is calling Verdi's threat to strike absurd. For the trade union to coerce pay-scale employees of the Post into striking against an alignment of the working hours of postal civil servants to the national standard level of other civil servants can only be termed grotesque. No postal customer will have any understanding for strike actions, especially since no extension of working hours is planned for pay-scale employees, no pay-scale employee has cause to fear a lay-off for operational reasons, and a moderate expansion of working hours in alignment with the valid national standard can be expected of civil servants in light of their privileges. From the viewpoint of Deutsche Post, there is not the slightest cause for threats of a strike. The federal deputy chairperson of Verdi, Rolf Büttner, should reflect upon the successful tradition of negotiating with Deutsche Post and not jeopardize solutions due to overly emotional campaigns.

Walter Scheurle, Deutsche Post World Net Board Member for Personnel: "We are willing to negotiate. However, we will not succumb to time pressure. The results have to conform to the economic framework conditions and the feasibilities of the corporation. We are offering to Verdi the opportunity to hold constructive and solution-oriented talks in early January."

The demand raised by Verdi at the same time for a reduction in working hours with full salary compensation for pay-scale employees will not secure jobs. On the contrary, the competitors of Deutsche Post work longer hours and often for mini-wages. Demanding a reduction in working hours in this environment weakens the competitive capacity of Deutsche Post and places well-paid and socially secured jobs at risk.