ver.di rejects very good offer

Deutsche Post made ver.di a very attractive offer, according to which dismissals protection would be extended to June 30, 2011 and contractual employees' wages would be increased by around 5.5 percent over the next two years.

In return, employees’ working hours would be moderately increased. That means that employees would work an extra half hour each week, or six minutes more each day. Civil servants will work 40 hours a week instead of 41 in the future, that’s one hour less than is usual for German federal civil servants and has been in force at Deutsche Post since April 1st ver.di rejected this offer.

Walter Scheurle, Board Member, Personnel, commented: "Whoever rejects 39 months of dismissals protection and a reasonable salary increase in exchange for a working-hours increase of six minutes per day, definitely does not represent the interest of our employees."

Deutsche Post continues to be unreservedly ready to talk

Deutsche Post emphasized its readiness to continue with the employment pact and thus its commitment to job security as well as to a salary increase that is attractive to employees, but at the same time economically viable. This precludes that the social partner is prepared to discuss an increase in working hours.

According to the assessment of Deutsche Post, job security assurance and the proposed salary increase correspond to the paramount interests of employees. The stubborn attitude of ver.di in regard to the working hours issue is obviously based more on dogmatism and in strategic and image goals than anything else.

Walter Scheurle said: "It should be in the interests of both sides to maintain the competitiveness of the Company in a liberalized and highly competitive market. Deutsche Post maintains its constructive position and is unreservedly read to talk. Now it is up to ver.di to make the next move towards finding anamicable solution to the wage conflict."