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Protesting postal workers in Nuremberg
Photo: IMAGO / IMAGO/IPA Photo
In the collective bargaining dispute at Deutsche Post, a ballot on an indefinite strike began on Monday.
The survey had been started in all federal states, said a spokesman for the Ver.di union in Berlin.
It should run until March 8th, and the result should be announced on March 9th.
The Verdi members are entitled to vote at the post office, according to the union there are more than 100,000. The collective agreement in turn applies to 160,000 postmen, postmen and other employees in Germany.
If at least 75 percent of those surveyed reject the postal tariff offer, there should be a strike.
In the collective bargaining dispute, Verdi is demanding 15 percent higher fees, the Post considers this to be economically unfeasible and offers less.
The last time there was a strike at the post office was in 2015.
Warning strikes have already taken place in recent weeks, causing millions of shipments to reach their recipients with delays.
If there is a strike, the consequences are likely to be more serious.
Post is considering two-class delivery
Meanwhile, the Post continues to push for a conversion of the letter system to the so-called two-class delivery.
"The consumer can decide at what speed his letter is transported," said Human Resources Director Thomas Ogilvie to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday).
"In terms of the range of services, I think that's a good step." However, reducing letter delivery to just five days a week is not a goal that is currently being pursued.
It has long been known that the group would like to deliver post at two speeds in the future – with different prices.
According to the company, there are already different delivery speeds in other European countries.
A prerequisite for such a step would be that the obligation to deliver at least 80 percent of letters the following day would be removed in the forthcoming reform of the postal law.
The traffic light coalition wants to change and modernize the postal law.
beb/dpa
