GLS Group

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General Logistics Systems B.V.
IndustryParcel service
Founded1999
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
Europe, United States, and Canada
Key people
Dr. Karl Pfaff, CEO
ServicesPostal/Parcel delivery/Collecting
RevenueIncrease €5.4 billion (2022/23)[1]
OwnerInternational Distributions Services
Number of employees
about 23,000[1]
Websitewww.gls-group.com

General Logistics Systems B.V. (GLS) is a parcel services provider operating in Europe and North America.

History[edit]

The company was known as German Parcel when it was founded in 1989 by Rico Back. It was subsequently renamed GLS and is now a subsidiary of International Distributions Services.[2][3]

In 2017, GLS acquired the California-based parcel delivery company Golden State Overnight (GSO) Delivery Service, as well as Postal Express.[4][5] GSO was renamed GLS-US in December 2019.[6]

In September 2018 GLS acquired the Canadian parcel delivery company Dicom, expanding operations in North America and Europe.[7] In October 2021 GLS acquired the Canadian logistics company Mid-Nite Sun Transportation Ltd, operating under Rosenau Transport, further expanding into the Canadian market.[8]

Criticism[edit]

In 2010 the parcel service was 'passed' a review by the German Consumers' Organization. The handling and wrong parcel pick-ups were criticized. The review was repeated in 2014 with similar results. In November 2019 the German magazine Stern published statistics with a 'shock indicator/goods damaged' value of 44,4%.[9]

In mid-September 2016, hundreds of parcel delivery workers took strike action in the Italian cities of Bergamo, Brescia, Piacenza, Bologna and Parma against GLS and its subcontractors to protest against poor working conditions. On the night of 14–15 September 2016, a van broke through a picket line formed by workers in front of the plant operated by GLS subcontractor SEAM in Piacenza. The van struck and killed Egyptian worker Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf. It was reported that eyewitnesses heard the plant's Chief of Staff ordering the driver to break through the picket line.[10] The Piacenza Prosecutor's office concluded that no strike or protest was taking place at that moment and therefore ruled the death was a car accident. The driver was subsequently released, prompting 7,000 workers to take to the streets in Piacenza and at other GLS offices in Italy, as well as from other firms.[10][11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "GLS facts | GLS Parcel Service". gls-group.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Our businesses". www.royalmailgroup.com.
  3. ^ "GLS history | GLS Group | GLS Parcel Service". gls-group.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "GLS buys Postal Express". Post & Parcel. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  5. ^ "GLS buys Golden State Overnight Delivery Service for $90m". Post & Parcel. 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  6. ^ "GSO completes name change To General Logistics Systems US, Inc". GLS-US Website. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Royal Mail buys into Canada with $276 million courier deal". CNBC. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  8. ^ "GLS buys Rosenau Transport". insidelogistics.ca. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  9. ^ "Paketdienste im Test: Wer Päckchen am sichersten ins Ziel bringt". stern.de (in German). 28 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  10. ^ a b "Logistics worker killed while on strike". Labournet TV. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  11. ^ Arens, Marianne (4 October 2016). "Italy: Strikes and protests against the Renzi government's "Jobs Act"". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 8 December 2016.

External sources[edit]

Media related to General Logistics Systems at Wikimedia Commons

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