Transport: Verdi is demanding seven percent more wages for postmen

From the perspective of the Verdi union, postmen, parcel deliverers and other Deutsche Post employees should receive seven percent more money. The Verdi collective bargaining committee decided on a corresponding demand, which also advocated three additional days of vacation.

“Due to increasing parcel volumes and weights, our members need further relief through additional free time,” said Verdi deputy boss Andrea Kocsis. She viewed the particularly high level of sickness in the company as evidence of the need for more free time so that employees can recover. It concerns around 170,000 postal employees in Germany.

Kocsis justified the demand for more money with high everyday costs, and the wages of most postal workers are lower than the average income in Germany. The current collective agreement expires at the end of the year. Deutsche Post belongs to the logistics group DHL.

Management reacts cautiously to Verdi’s demand. “In a difficult economic environment with low inflation, securing employment is our top priority as an employer,” the company said in a statement. Employment security can only be guaranteed with a balance between wage increases and economic viability. This year, the salaries of collective bargaining employees have already increased by an average of 11.5 percent.

The company also pointed out a decision by the Federal Network Agency, according to which sending letters by post may become 10.5 percent more expensive in January – given the shrinking volume of letters and high investments, the board considers this to be too little. “Unfortunately, the request presented completely ignores these facts.”