Last Mile Brief 14/03/2023: Deutsche Post strikes set to end following Verdi Union pay agreement
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In today's Last Mile Brief, we bring you news of a breakthrough in the dispute between the Verdi Union and Deutsche Post, plus an arrangement between An Post and Royal Mail on post-Brexit deliveries, as well as reports from the US that Walmart is closing the gap on Amazon Prime.
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Today’s headline story: Deutsche Post strikes set to end following Verdi Union pay agreement
Deutsche Post and Verdi trade union have both announced that a deal on pay and conditions has been reached, seemingly putting an end to further strike action.
If the offer is accepted by the union’s members, who have been balloted on the deal, Deutsche Post’s 160,000 employees in Germany would benefit from a one-off payment of €3,000 euros over 15 months. In addition, monthly wages shall also go up by €340 euros from April 1st 2024.
“This is a good result that could not have been achieved without the pressure and willingness of our members to go on strike. With this result, our most important goal of creating an inflation adjustment, especially for the lower income groups, has been achieved according to the current forecasts of the expected rate of price increases, ” said ver.di deputy chairwoman and chief negotiator Andrea Kocsis.
Europe round up
- DX has opened two new depots in the UK; one in Bracknell, Berkshire, and another in Swindon, Wiltshire.
- A man from Leicestershire is one of 17 people police have quizzed as part of inquiries in a number of parcel fraud cases totalling over £620,000.
- Ireland’s An Post has welcomed a recent breakthrough with the UK’s Royal Mail over an issue that had been leading to thousands of online purchases by Irish customers being returned each day to smaller British retailers.
- Coventry MP Zarah Sultana has praised Amazon’s pioneering workers as they continue strike action this week.
- Deutsche Post DHL Group and Poste Italiane have signed a strategic partnership in the Italian and international parcel markets.
- Swiss supermarket chain Migros has launched a trial of an autonomous delivery service, entitled Migronomous.
North America round up
- Quadient has announced a deal with US retailer Ferguson that will see its oversized lockers installed outside some stores.
- US rapid grocery delivery startup Food Rocket is no more.
- Starship’s fleet of 30 autonomous, on-demand robots at a North Carolina University are now delivering from Wendy’s, Bojangles and Shake Smart.
- Bloomberg Law claims that Amazon has beefed up its legal defence team fighting federal safety investigations and complying with subpoena requests.
- Walmart is said to be closing the gap with Amazon Prime, at least when it comes to some of the profitable customers.
News from the rest of the world
- FedEx has integrated WhatsApp notifications into its digital e-commerce delivery solution for consumers in the UAE.
- Five men working at a SingPost logistics centre have sought medical treatment after they handled a parcel that leaked corrosive fluid.
- The end of daily letter deliveries is in sight, claims Paul Alexander of Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
- Australia Post has recommenced delivering mail and parcels to hundreds of homes in Alice Springs, almost a fortnight after halting the service due to staff safety concerns.
- Glovo is betting on q-commerce to drive up online shopping in Kenya.
- DHL Express Middle East has upgraded its fleet with fully electric vans built by Peugeot.
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