TNT workers oppose salary cuts

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Postal delivery workers at TNT do not want to take pay cuts in return for job guarantees, according to opinion polls carried out by the two main post office unions.

Members of both the Abvakabo FNV and CNV Publieke Zaak unions say they are opposed to plans to worsen their working conditions, news agency ANP reports.

Earlier this year, union members also rejected plans to cut pay in return for a three-year job guarantee.

Drastic measures

Since then union officials have carried out their own research and concluded that such drastic measures are unavoidable. TNT wants to overhaul its delivery service, which employs 23,000, because of increasing competition and lower volumes.

CNV official Inge Bakker said the results of the survey showed TNT workers had lost faith in the company.

TNT said it was 'disappointed' in the results of the survey. 'Over the past few years we have put work above income. Now the workers are doing the opposite,' a spokesman told ANP.

A survey by the company in July showed most workers were prepared to take a pay cut to preserve jobs.

The Dutch postal delivery market is completely liberalised and TNT is facing increasing competition from new players who treat delivery workers as cheaper freelancers.

Unions and management are due to meet next week to discuss the next steps. ANP said industrial action over the busy Christmas period is not being ruled out.

© DutchNews.nl

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