Union secures up to 95 percent raise for DHL workers

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The 5th Term Collective Bargaining Agreement (CLA) negotiations carried out between DHL Logistics and the All Transport Workers Union (TÜMTİS) on behalf of 1,450 workers have resulted in an agreement.

According to the agreement covering the period between January 1 and December 31, workers have received a net 45 percent raise. When bonuses and social benefits are included, it varies between 63 and 95 percent.

In the second year, workers' salaries will be increased by the higher of the inflation rate or the minimum wage increase rate.

In case of an interim increase in the minimum wage while the contract is in effect, the gap between the new minimum wage and the wages of the employees will be maintained.

Workers also made significant gains in bonuses and other social rights with the collective agreement.

Accordingly, the union workers will receive a bonus amounting to three months' salary, instead of two in the previous agreement.

Also, the daily meal allowance has been increased from 31 to 55 Turkish lira and social benefits, including commuting allowance, marriage, education, childbirth, and heating assistance, have been increased by 45 percent.

Releasing a statement after the agreement, TÜMTİS said, "Despite the unfair competition of non-union logistic and cargo firms that make workers work 10-12 hours a day and the pressure they put on the businesses where we are organized, we have signed a successful CLA without causing any loss of rights of our members.

"Our union will continue the struggle for protecting and improving the rights of cargo, logistics and transport workers. We are calling on all cargo, logistics and transport workers who haven't unionized yet and work in insecure ... conditions to unite in our union." (HA/VK)