Germany: Ver.di launches new offensive to impose “new” minimum pay in the postal sector

Wage dumping. On January 1, 2008, the federal government imposed, in a decree, that all postal business apply minimum wage, ranging between €8 and €9.8 an hour, negotiated between Ver.di and an employers’ organization (AGV Postdienste) controlled by the Deutsche Post AG (see our dispatch No. 070983). Since April 30th, the sector’s businesses are no longer forced to pay minimum wage. However, even before that date, many companies refused to apply it, arguing that it was subject to legal proceeding (see our dispatch No. 081041). Yet, what Ver.di was afraid of in the early 90s before the liberalization of the postal market has happened. In spite of politicians’ open will to protect employees against social dumping, the postal sector has become, according to Ver.di, a sector characterized by precarious working and pay conditions with wages sometimes amounting to €5.5 an hour. “The economic system where employers pay employees pittance wages thus forcing them to request complementary social benefits is booming in the postal sector” declared Andrea Kocsis, Verdi’s deputy chair. She added: “minimum wage in the postal sector was, is and will be a necessity.”
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). Yet, what Ver.di was afraid of in the early 90s before the liberalization of the postal market has happened. In spite of politicians’ open will to protect employees against social dumping, the postal sector has become, according to Ver.di, a sector characterized by precarious working and pay conditions with wages sometimes amounting to €5.5 an hour. “The economic system where employers pay employees pittance wages thus forcing them to request complementary social benefits is booming in the p

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