The major logistics companies work together for a sector-wide collective agreement

Place your order today and your parcel will be delivered within the minimum of time. A matter of course? For most people yes. Thousands of delivery staff are on the road every day to ensure that the delivery processes run smoothly. We are pleased that the six largest employers in the Swiss logistics market have committed themselves to minimum standards for employment conditions for companies.

The aim: to negotiate an industry-wide collective employment agreement together with the social partners syndicom and transfair.

For us, the well-being of all employees comes first. This is exactly what our CEO, Tilmann Schultze, is personally concerned about. In this interview, we explore his perspective on this issue and learn about this new opportunity in our industry:

DPD: Good news – negotiations regarding the industry’s new collective bargaining agreement are scheduled to start shortly.

What is your view on this?

Tilmann: "Until now, there hasn’t been an overarching association or a collective bargaining agreement for the industry as a whole. The major logistics companies and the existing employers’ associations therefore decided to found a new employers’ association called "Zustellung Schweiz". The aim of this new umbrella organisation is for a common basis for the employment conditions of delivery staff to be negotiated as an industry.
We at DPD have always made it clear that we would welcome industry-wide minimum standards for all the partners involved. We are therefore happy that we are all now taking this step together."

 

DPD: How will this affect our drivers?

Tilmann: "Logistics companies make a significant contribution to the Swiss economy and to society with their services. The work that the employees do every day is demanding. By introducing an industry-wide collective bargaining agreement, the partners involved are seeking to establish minimum standards regarding the employment conditions in this important industry.
We cannot allow the fierce competition within the industry, which is resulting in a lot of pressure on prices, to be played out in the form of unfair wages. This is our opinion and our position. DPD pledged to maintain the old collective bargaining agreement as the minimum and to work towards a new collective bargaining agreement. We have now honoured this pledge as planned."

DPD: Negotiations are being held with which trade unions?

Tilmann: "The new industry association will negotiate with the trade union syndicom and with the staff association transfair."

 

DPD: What are your personal thoughts on the matter? Can you summarise them in a few words or sentences?

Tilmann: "The official start of negotiations reassures me that we are able to live up to our obligations even in turbulent times. I have always seen the other parcel service providers as fellow competitors rather than rivals, because I am aware of how demanding our business is and of exactly what it takes to keep our customers and their addressees happy. We succeeded in remaining connected with the Swiss people during the Covid crisis and we will continue to do so in the future too, no matter what obstacles we face. I am delighted that we have all succeeded in coming together for this joint project."

We are very pleased about this agreement with a clear goal - a new industry-wide CLA - and hope that we have been able to give you an insight into the views of our CEO at DPD Switzerland.

Kind regards

Your DPD Switzerland Team