Sponsored by
DHL workers fear last post
Worldwide delivery company DHL Express this week confirmed jobs at its Galashiels depot are at risk under plans to streamline operations across the UK, writes Mark Inchley.
The branch at Tweedbank Industrial Estate is one of several facing closure in drastic money-saving cuts which would see the handling of deliveries in the Borders shifted to centres at Gateshead, Carlisle and Edinburgh.
Founded in San Francisco almost 40 years ago, the company is now part of German mail and finance giant Deutsche Post World Net and has around 300,000 employees.
However, this week a spokesperson confirmed 19 employees could face redundancy under plans to shut down operations in the Borders.
She told TheSouthern: "DHL Express can confirm that there is a proposal, subject to consultation, to close our service centre in Galashiels.
"Under this proposal, a total of 19 employees have been identified as at risk of redundancy.
"This proposal is essential for maintaining a strong operation with the right framework to enable DHL Express to keep its market-leading position in line with rapidly-changing customer needs.
"As we are currently engaged in a formal consultation process with affected employees, we cannot comment further at this time beyond saying that, wherever possible, we will always endeavour to retain employees in the business and we will look for suitable re-employment options."
While DHL is reported to be axing centres across the UK, it has refused to comment on exactly how many and, in America, the company has slashed thousands of jobs nationally as part of attempts to overcome annual losses of around 650million.
Meanwhile, the company has also been linked to a bidding war with TNT for an estimated 3billion stake in Royal Mail.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Galashiels
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
