Germany: the strike at Deutsche Post DHL has started a legal free-for-all

Week three of the strike organized by the services union Verdi at Deutsche Post DHL (DP-DHL) comes to a close without the social partners moving one step closer to agreement. In fact it has been the opposite for on June 21 in an operation called “Yellow Sunday” (DP-DHL colors are yellow) the company used social networks to hire almost 11,000 workers for the day to reduce the backlog in packages and letters distribution. Deutsche Post considers itself one of the companies authorized to work on Sundays and so did not lodge any official request. Both the unions and the labor inspectorate contest this position and have launched an investigation. In addition Verdi has once again complained about civil servants being ‘forced’ to take the places of those out on strike. Reciprocal accusations aimed at putting pressure on employees are being thrown about.