Around 350 jobs are in danger at a DHL logistics centre in Germany after DHL Supply Chain lost amajor contract with Deutsche Telekom.
DHL’s supply chain division in Euskirchen, North-Rhine Westphalia, failed to win the newtender for its delivery contract with Deutsche Telekom that will expire on 31 December 2012,Deutsche Post spokesman Achim Gahr told CEP-Research, confirming media reports.
Yesterday, Deutsche Post DHL informed its work council about the results of the tenderprocess. “We have been told that Deutsche Telekom will not resume further negotiations withDeutsche Post regarding a new contract,” Gahr stated.
As part of the existing contract, DHL Supply Chain packages and delivers products thatcustomers order at Deutsche Telekom such as mobile phones, spare parts or SIM cards. Since 1September 2005, the logistics centre in Euskirchen has been serving all Telekom shops in Germany aswell as private customers.
Up to 60,000 parcels are handled daily at the 40,000 sqm terminal in Euskirchen. The siteemploys around 350 staff who might lose their jobs as a result of DHL losing the Telekom contract.
Gahr stressed, however, that DHL will do its utmost to retain the jobs in Euskirchen. “Thedecision was announced yesterday. It is too early to give any information on the job situation butwe will try our best to keep our employees. We have one and a half years until the contract expiresto find a solution.”
In the meantime, DHL will try to find new customers to generate new orders for the Euskirchensite to avoid mass dismissals. Apart from Telekom, DHL’s customers at the site include theelectronics manufacturer Verigy, Epson and Kabel Deutschland (Cable Germany).
“We might transfer some work from other customers to Euskirchen but these are onlyspeculations for now as we didn’t have time to think about it yet due to the abrupt announcement.But we have enough time until the end of 2012,” Gahr reiterated.
