PostNL to add 500 parcel couriers in trade union deal

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Delivery giant PostNL has signed a new agreement with Dutch trade unions that will see it taking on new delivery staff.

The new agreement, which applies to 17,000 employees, will see staff receiving a pay rise and compensation. There is also a new agreement covering 500 Saturday workers.

The company also said it would add 500 new staff and will offer permanent contracts to 200 parcel deliverers who currently have temporary positions.

PostNL will also create 30 temporary jobs at its international parcel sorting centre.

Three trade unions, Bond van Post Personeel, CNV Publieke Diensten and VHP2 have signed up to the agreement.

However, the union FNV has indicated that it does not support the agreement. It has previously pushed PostNL to end third party contracting. FNV had accused Tempo Team, which provides contract workers to PostNL, of evading the company’s collective labour agreements.

The rights of delivery workers are a hot topic at the moment. In February, Hermes agreed to provide couriers with new rights through a deal with a major UK union in a landmark case for the country’s delivery companies.

The firm’s couriers, who are classed as self-employed, will be able to receive pro rata holiday pay and guaranteed earnings of £8.55 per hour by choosing to become “self-employed plus”. The package works through an opt-in model, meaning that those who wish to retain their current status and earn premium rates can do so.