Global delivery giant condemned for use of lie detectors

May 30, 2011

Unionists from around the world staged a protest rally at the annual general meeting (AGM) of global delivery firm DHL in Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. They were demanding an end to the company’s disregard for workers’ fundamental rights in some countries where DHL operates, as well as its use of lie detector tests.
Since unionists confronted DHL management over the use of lie detector tests on employees in Panama and Costa Rica, new cases in Colombia and South Africa have emerged. “The result of this practice is fear, unemployment and social exclusion, as employees struggle under unwarranted suspicion”, explained Ivonne Jackelen, lead organiser for UNI Global Union in Central America.
DHL worker Edwin Velasquez Ayala from Colombia was subjected to a lie detector test carried out by former military officers. “The test carried out by DHL split my life in half. It destroyed my self-esteem completely,” said Velasquez, who was subsequently sacked with no reason given. When challenged on lie detector tests, DHL representatives said that they would continue to use them, despite a promise at last year’s AGM that they would end the practice.
“Perhaps [DHL’s chief executive] Mr Appel should be the one on the lie detector, especially when answering UNI Global Union’s questions at AGMs? Can we believe what he tells us as shareholders?” said Neil Anderson, head of UNI Global Union post and logistics.
In addition to lie detector tests, DHL workers and trade unionists have revealed other anti-union practices, including the suppression of union activities across many countries. In Guatemala, for example, it has been reported that DHL employees are dismissed immediately if it becomes known that they have met with trade unionists.
Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, stated: “DHL’s problems won’t go away; nor will we until we have an agreement that guarantees its workers their basic rights.”

Unionists from around the world staged a protest rally at the annual general meeting (AGM) of global delivery firm DHL in Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. They were demanding an end to the company’s disregard for workers’ fundamental rights in some countries where DHL operates, as well as its use of lie detector tests.
Since unionists confronted DHL management over the use of lie detector tests on employees in Panama and Costa Rica, new cases in Colombia and South Africa have emerged. “The result of this practice is fear, unemployment and social exclusion, as employees struggle under unwarranted suspicion”, explained Ivonne Jackelen, lead organiser for UNI Global Union in Central America.
DHL worker Edwin Velasquez Ayala from Colombia was subjected to a lie detector test carried out by former military officers. “The test carried out by DHL split my life in half. It destroyed my self-esteem completely,” said Velasquez, who was subsequently sacked with no reason given. When challenged on lie detector tests, DHL representatives said that they would continue to use them, despite a promise at last year’s AGM that they would end the practice.
“Perhaps [DHL’s chief executive] Mr Appel should be the one on the lie detector, especially when answering UNI Global Union’s questions at AGMs? Can we believe what he tells us as shareholders?” said Neil Anderson, head of UNI Global Union post and logistics.
In addition to lie detector tests, DHL workers and trade unionists have revealed other anti-union practices, including the suppression of union activities across many countries. In Guatemala, for example, it has been reported that DHL employees are dismissed immediately if it becomes known that they have met with trade unionists.
Ingo Marowsky, ITF organising globally coordinator, stated: “DHL’s problems won’t go away; nor will we until we have an agreement that guarantees its workers their basic rights.”

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