The FNV, the Netherlands’ key union, asked an expert to carry out a study on the best way to achieve a “sustainable” postal market, combining quality service and decent working conditions, with businesses reflecting costs on tariffs and not on workers. Therefore, the government needs to “regain control over the postal market,” since the ongoing liberalization since April 1, 2009 is ending in social dumping. Ergon Groen, from FNV and Allies (FNV Bondgenoten, manufacturing union), said that “thousands of employees risk loosing their job, and thousands of other earn in average 70% of minimum wage” because of the “price war” between the three companies, TNT Post (former pubic post, of which the State still owns 19%), Saand and Selekt Mail. And this is in spite of collective agreements, arduously negotiated, that gave employers more time to recruit their staff on a “normal” basis (permanent jobs and minimum wage). Saand and Selekt Mail isn’t giving up the idea of going to court against an ordinance of October 7, 2009 by the Secretary of State for Employment and Social Affairs imposing that they recruit 80% of their staff by 2012 (see our dispatch No. 100305). After they lost the appeal, they could still turn to the Supreme Court.
oyment and Social Affairs imposing that they recruit 80% of their staff by 2012 (see our dispatch No. 100305). After they lost the appeal, they could still turn to the Supreme Court.
For its part, TNT Post, the former public post, announced 11,000 job cuts by 2012 and is going to generalize appeal to part-time (see our dispatch No. 100655). Why? Because the group lost 30% of its mail volume since 2000, because of the internet boom, and is faced with rivals which still pay their employees per
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