TNT Express is to reduce working hours of staff at its air hub at Liege airport in Belgium forthe next three months in response to lower volumes but is not planning any redundancies there ahead
of its expected acquisition by UPS.After several months of talks the company and trade unions have agreed that staff will workfewer hours from April 16 until the end of June, with a maximum of two days’ less work per personper week.
“TNT and trade unions have agreed on a plan to temporarily reduce working time in Liege forworkers involved in sorting activities (the equivalent of 650 people working in night shifts and105 people working in day shifts),” spokesman Cyrille Gibot told CEP-Research.
“These workers are entitled to a benefit from the National Employment Office. The workers keeptheir job,” he stressed. TNT told local unions as early as the end of 2011 that it needed to savecosts in uncertain economic times while retaining workers and their experience, he added.
TNT Express announced at the start of April that it had seen a decline in international expressvolumes in Europe this year and had started a €150 million cost reduction programme. The company isin the process of downscaling its international air capacity, including eliminating 10-12 aircraftfrom the 45-strong intra-European fleet and halving the size of the intercontinental fleet, whichcurrently consists of two B747Fs and two B777Fs.
The move comes against the background of UPS’ planned €5.2 billion takeover of the company. Aspart of the deal, the legal ownership of Liege-based TNT Airways will have to change to meet EUairline ownership rules. UPS has stressed that Liege, where TNT has a contract until 2036, willremain an important facility in future, even though Cologne will be the main air hub in Europe.
