The state labor court reacted quickly in the dispute over an arbitration board for the Zalando logistics center in Erfurt, which was threatened with closure. A company spokesman and the Zalando works council confirmed in response to a dpa request in Erfurt that the first negotiation date has already been set for June 3rd. The works council announced on Wednesday that it had lodged a complaint in the second instance against the Erfurt Labor Court’s decision to set up a conciliation board to balance interests and a social plan.
Zalando wants to close the logistics center with which the online fashion retailer grew up in September. This means that around 2,700 employees would lose their jobs. The conflict has been simmering since the beginning of the year, and there have now been two works meetings, most recently without management representatives, as well as a demonstration by employees and supporters in Erfurt.
Company complains about loss of time
“Every day that we now lose with legal proceedings through negotiations is a day lost in achieving the urgently needed clarity for the employees,” explained company spokesman Christian Schmidt regarding the works council’s complaint. Taking legal action against the decision “only delays the certainty that our employees want for their future planning.” The management of the DAX group is sticking to the closure plans.
From the company’s perspective, the conciliation board offers “the necessary, neutrally moderated framework to conduct objective negotiations on a fair social plan,” said the spokesman. Zalando is ready to “talk about concrete supportive measures, including severance payments, within the framework of the conciliation board.”
Job offers in other logistics centers
According to works council leader Tony Krause, the conciliation board has not yet met following the labor court’s decision. The works council is ready to begin serious negotiations and has presented concepts and dates, emphasized Krause. With the complaint to the State Labor Court, the employee representatives want to ensure “that the statutory co-determination rights are not undermined by one-sided time dictates by the employer and that constructive negotiations are initiated.”
The company’s aim is not to “force something or shorten negotiations, but rather to finally create clarity and planning security for employees after almost three months,” replied the company spokesman. According to him, on Thursday there was an information day for employees who were interested in open positions in other logistics centers of the online fashion retailer in Mönchengladbach, Lahr and Giessen.
Labor law provides for conciliation bodies to act as arbitration bodies in companies when the works council and the employer cannot agree on important issues.