Deutsche Post
Profile
Deutsche Post, better known as DHL, is the successor to the Deutsche Bundespost, the German postal service that was privatized in 1995. It paid out $13.5 million for misclassifying hundreds of delivery drivers in California as independent contractors, and $1.5 million for wage violations of airport workers in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Similar suits are pending in Tennessee. It has also been sued for underpaying East European drivers who make deliveries in Germany and are forced to live in their trucks because of low wages. In Turkey, DHL was accused of firing 30 workers were members of the Tümtis trade union for attempting to organize workers.
Postal service, Freight service
Violations
| Top 5 Offense Groups (Groups Defined) | Penalty Total | Number of Records |
|---|---|---|
| employment-related offenses | $25,375,807 | 30 |
| competition-related offenses | $9,500,244 | 3 |
| safety-related offenses | $1,948,542 | 107 |
| environment-related offenses | $80,000 | 1 |
| financial offenses | $53,073 | 2 |
(April 26, 2021)
Stories
DHL - Deceit, Hypocrisy and Lies by Mike Whitehead (2018)
Activism
Justice for DHL workers in Turkey
Fair Transport Europe | July 28, 2018
The campaign for Fair Transport has scored a new victory. After months of dispute, DHL Express Turkey is finally willing to enter into negotiations with the workers’ representatives of the TÜMTIS union.
DHL Workers: Justice simply denied. Mobilisation against anti-union practises in Turkey
European Transport Workers federation | July 17, 2018
Since 2012 ETF/ITF Turkish affiliate Tümtis has been fighting DHL to get recognition, the first hurdle was taken in 2013 when after 476 days on the picket line, Tümtis was finally recognised after successfully organising DHL Supply Chain.
DHL Chile workers fight layoffs
International Transport Workers Union | April 22, 2016
DHL workers in Chile have staged nationwide protests in support of their colleagues who have been laid off by the logistics giant.
Deutsche Post-DHL brings race to the bottom home to Germany
International Transport Workers Union | May 14, 2015
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and UNI Global Union today condemned as cynical Deutsche Post-DHL’s move to drastically cut the pay of its parcel delivery workers in Germany.
Worker Abuse at DHL is Unacceptable
UNI Global Union | February, 2010
Workers at Deutsche Post DHL are fed up. In several DHL locations the working conditions are considered poor, workers’ rights are not fully re-spected and unions aren’t recognised.
& Lawsuits
California judge approves $13.5 settlement for Exel Direct drivers
Allie Sanchez | Insurance Business America | August 23, 2016
A protracted court battle may be coming to a close for hundreds of drivers who filed a misclassification suit against Exel Direct in 2012, a recent report said.
DHL to pay shippers $53m to settle price-fixing lawsuit
Will Waters | Lloyd's Loading List | January 6, 2016
DHL has reportedly agreed to pay US$53 million to resolve a long-running antitrust class action lawsuit in the US by a group of shippers that accuse DHL and other freight forwarders of a historical conspiracy to fix international air freight prices and surcharges.
Aggressive and Unlawful: A Report into Deutsche Post DHL Operations in Turkey
John Logan | International Transport Workers Federation | October 2, 2015
For well over a year, workers at DHL Logistics in Turkey have been attempting to form a union. Click the second English link to view the follow up report 'Aggressive and Unlawful Revisited: DHLʼs Anti-Unionism in Turkey'
Deutsche Post DHL's Race to the Bottom: Ver.di fights back
UNI Global Union | April 1, 2015
UNI affiliate Ver.di, the German services union representing workers in Deutsche Post DHL, have begun industrial action today to fight back against DHL's announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs from the German post office.
Fish & Richardson Wins Fraud Verdict Worth $35 Million for Worldwide Express in Texas Contract Lawsuit Against DHL Express
PR Newswire | June 3, 2011
Relying on evidence that included "smoking gun" documents, attorneys from Fish & Richardson won a $7.12 million verdict and successfully defended nearly $28 million in counterclaims for Dallas-based Worldwide Express Operations in a Texas lawsuit against the U.S. division of international transportation and shipping conglomerate DHL Express.
DHL Supply Chain 'flaunting' virus guidelines for the wellbeing of its workers, claims union
Gavin van Marle | The Load Star | March 4, 2020
A UK truckers’ union has criticised DHL Supply Chain for failing to ensure the safety of its drivers moving supplies around the country during the coronavirus crisis.
Logistics company DHL fined £2 million following death of worker
MKFM | April 30, 2018
The fine was reduced by 1/3 for an early guilty plea and £100,000 in costs is to be paid to Milton Keynes Council after the death of an employee at one of its Milton Keynes depots.
Czech driver sues Deutsche Post. The case in a German labour court may be a breakthrough for many truckers.
Agnieszka Kulikowska | Transport Info | November 16, 2017
German politicians and transport unions, “concerned” „about Eastern European drivers, push forward EU regulations to improve social conditions in transport. Meanwhile, companies such as Deutsche Post outsource deliveries to carriers from the East, although their drivers do not receive statutory compensation.
When the Postman Rings Twice
Christoph Schlautmann | Handelsblatt Today | May 21, 2015
The government-owned German postal service is trying to push down wages through a new subsidiary that pays workers about 30 percent less than their peers.
DHL Delhi workers hold day of action against harassment
International Transport Workers Federation | September 25, 2014
Members of the DHL Employees Union in Delhi and their families are staging a family dharna (sit in) on 21 September, to protest against reported harassment and victimisation by the company.
Jury Awards $500,000 in EEOC Sex Discrimination Suit Against Exel, Inc.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | June 11, 2013
An Atlanta jury has awarded $500,000 against a Westerville, Ohio-based warehouse and distribution company for failing to promote a female to a supervisory position, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.
Financials
Note: Not a complete list.
Croctail Subsidiary Tool using the CorpWatch API - This API uses automated parsers to extract the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the SEC.
Click here for the latest list.
Political Influence
OpenSecrets.org Profile of Deutsche Post AG
& Evasion
DHL's Italian subsidiary investigated for tax fraud
Reuters | June 7, 2021
Italian tax police have seized assets worth more than 20 million euros ($24 million) from the local unit of logistics giant Deutsche Post DHL (DPWGn.DE) as part of a fraud investigation, a judicial document seen by Reuters showed on Monday.
Ex-Deutsche Post chief admits tax evasion
Gerrit Wiesmann and James Wilson | Financial Times | January 22, 2009
Klaus Zumwinkel, the former chief executive of Deutsche Post, admitted today that he used a secret bank account in Liechtenstein to avoid paying about €970,000 in taxes.
Deutsche Post agrees to buy UK Mail for £242.7m
Published by The Guardian | Angela Monaghan | September 28, 2016
German company’s acquisition strengthens its grip on European postal market and will put further pressure on Royal Mail in UK.