“Forward ever, backward never: onwards with Breaking Through”
POSTAL NEWS
No 86 -2018

Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector


UNI Global Union and Universal Postal Union (UPU) sign global agreement to deepen cooperation on development and innovation. October 25, 2018.

Global Postal System Fast-Tracks Rate Review Following U.S. Gripe. October 23, 2018.
Post Office’s New Acquisition Creates 25,000 Locations For Customers To Pay Bills. October 22, 2018.

Canadian postal workers start rotating strike after Canada Post management says NO to health and safety improvements. October 22, 2018.

FedEx Commits $2.5 Million for Aviation Scholarships. October 19, 2018.   

UNI Global Union and Universal Postal Union (UPU) sign global agreement to deepen cooperation on development and innovation

October 25,  2018
UNI Global Union General Secretary Christy Hoffman and the UPU’s Director General Bishar A. Hussein signed global agreement today during a meeting of the UPU’s Council of Administration in Berne.
The Agreement sets out an agenda of cooperation between UNI and the UPU with a strong emphasis on sustainable development and innovation in the postal sector.
It promises to further strengthen the bonds between the world’s postal workers and the international postal community.
UNI Global Union General Secretary, Christy Hoffman said, “The postal sector is facing multiple challenges because of the on-going digital revolution, but at heart the essential issues remain the same, the right to decent work. UNI specifically welcomes the agreement’s plan to innovate and expand the areas of potential postal employment in this new world of work.”
“The postal sector is a major employer worldwide, and an active member of society. This collaboration will help us shed light on how postal operators can serve not only their staff, but also the communities in which they operate,” UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein said during the signing ceremony.
The new agreement recognizes the value of workers in the postal industry and underlines UNI and the UPU’s deep commitment to promoting decent working conditions for postal employees.
UNI Post&Logistics Global President, Dave Ward explained, “There are 600,000 postal outlets around.

Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news


Global Postal System Fast-Tracks Rate Review Following U.S. Gripe

Discounts established to help less-developed countries have continued to apply even as China has become a major e-commerce shipper.

October 23, 2018
A Trump administration threat to pull out of a global mail system over its discounted shipping rates from China could spur a change in those rates as early as April, the head of the United Nations agency that oversees the system said.
The U.S. last week started a yearlong process to withdraw from the 144-year-old Universal Postal Union because it had failed to eliminate international discounts. Those discounts, aimed at helping developing countries, have continued to apply to China even as it has grown to become the world’s second-largest economy. They can make it cheaper to ship small packages from China to the U.S. than from locations within the U.S.
The move was the latest salvo by the Trump administration against China and a reminder of the president’s willingness to abandon international organizations that he says don’t help U.S. interests. American manufacturers welcomed the move, saying the flood of cheap goods from China undercut their business.


The UPU, which is now holding previously scheduled council meetings, commissioned a report Tuesday that is the first step toward fast-tracking new rates, Director General Bishar Hussein said in an interview.
“If we work fast enough, and the member countries are all in consensus on these issues and decisions are made, by April next year I think it is a possibility,” Mr. Hussein said.
The discounts also benefit countries including Russia and Mexico. The U.S. has stressed that its decision isn’t only about China, though that obviously is a large factor.

Administration officials have said the lower rates cost the U.S. Postal Service some $300 million a year, with discounts ranging from 40% to 70%.
Mr. Hussein said he welcomed the move by the U.S. if it manages to reform the group’s “archaic” rates.
“Now with the U.S. coming in and saying, ‘Sorry, enough is enough,’ I think this is going to take the conversation to another level, and I’m very happy to see that,” Mr. Hussein said.
Mr. Hussein stressed that even a fast-tracked process has many steps, including the research report, a proposal and a vote by members. At least half of the organization’s 192 members have to vote for a proposal to be considered, and it can pass only with a two-thirds majority.
If the U.S. were to withdraw from the UPU, it would lose access to global processing and coding systems that make international mail possible, and it would have to negotiate bilateral postal agreements with every individual country, Mr. Hussein said.
The U.S. has said it hopes to negotiate a solution that keeps it from having to withdraw from the UPU, but also has said it is proceeding with a plan to institute “self-declared” rates that could take effect within six months.

Source : https://www.wsj.com/articles


Post Office’s New Acquisition Creates 25,000 Locations For Customers To Pay Bills

October 22, 2018
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have now approved the deal for the Post Office to acquire Payzone’s bill payment service.
The move means Post Office will acquire an additional network of more than 13,000 Payzone bill payment outlets open more than 100 hours a week, along with their bill payment technology.
Debbie Smith, Post Office Retail Chief Executive, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Payzone’s bill payments network into the wider Post Office group. Bill payments are a vital service for customers, particularly for many vulnerable or elderly customers and people who don’t have online access so rely on paying their bills over the counter.
“This deal allows us to more than double our bill payment network.  Through our combined reach of 25,000 bill payment outlets we are now in an even stronger position to compete for new and bigger bill payment contracts, helping to bring in more customers for Post Office branches and Payzone retailers alike.”
With over 500 million bill payment transactions across the UK last year, it is a market which presents a strong growth opportunity for both the Post for both the Post Office and Payzone networks.


Source : https://postandparcel.info/98667/news/post


Canadian postal workers start rotating strike after Canada Post management says NO to health and safety improvements

22 October 2018
As the clock struck midnight, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) called a rotating strike in four cities. The work stoppage, starting at 12:01 am on October 22, comes after Canada Post management failed to accept the CUPW’s proposals to make postal jobs safer.
In the negotiations, the union hoped to win a more humane workload. Due to “overburdening,” Canada Post has the highest injury rate of all federal industries. This unreasonable pace of work affects all Canada Post workers in the country—workers in processing facilities as well as letter carriers in communities large and small, rural and urban. Canada Post is currently unwilling to adequately address this problem.
Additionally, management refuses to create the maximum number of full-time jobs in the Urban Postal Operations and to pay for all working hours for Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC). Instead management wants rural postal employees to work extended hours and overtime for free. The strike covers 50,000 full time, part time and temporary (casual) workers.
“Canada Post had the opportunity this weekend to stop any postal disruption on Monday, but instead, as they have for almost a year, they refused to talk about the issues that matter to our members,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Our goal has always been a negotiated settlement, but we will not agree to anything that doesn’t address health and safety, gender equality and good, full-time middle-class jobs.”
Key demands for postal workers during this round of bargaining are job security, an end to forced overtime and overburdening, stronger health and safety measures, service expansion, and pay equality for RSMCs.
“Job actions will continue until Canada Post gets serious about bargaining. They should and can do better. Our members deserve better,” says Palecek.
CUPW opted for rotating strikes, in Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor, and Halifax, to minimize the impact of a postal disruption on customers. Mail will still be delivered, although it could be delayed.
UNI Global Union fully supports the postal strike in Canada. We call the Canada Post management and the Canadian government to deal with the pending issues in the negotiations with CUPW. UNI calls on all affiliates to raise the issue and send letters to Canada Post management and the Canadian government.



Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news
FedEx Commits $2.5 Million for Aviation Scholarships

October 19, 2018
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 18, 2018—FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, today announced it is providing $2.5 million to create scholarships dedicated to easing the financial burden of rising education costs on the next generation of aviation professionals.
FedEx Express created the FedEx Purple Runway Aviation Scholarship program and is collaborating with six universities and technical schools from around the country that provide valuable education and training for aspiring pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians and other aviation professionals.
David Cunningham, president and CEO of FedEx Express, said the U.S. education system should sharpen its focus on preparing young people for the good-paying jobs in the aviation industry that are needed to support growing international and domestic trade.
“E-commerce is driving increasing demands on both air and ground transportation networks at a time when large numbers of workers in these fields are retiring, or nearing retirement,” Cunningham said. “We are working with schools to strengthen the pipeline of talented and diverse pilots, mechanics and other aviation professionals. The FedEx Purple Runway Aviation Scholarship helps lay that foundation for an individual to have a promising and successful career in the industry that FedEx Express created.”
The $2.5 million in grants will go toward dedicated aviation scholarships at the University of Memphis, Delta State University, University of North Dakota, Indiana

State University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and Arkansas State University Mid-South.
The FedEx Purple Runway Aviation Scholarship is an extension of the Company’s recently announced aviation pathways program Purple Runway – A FedEx Pathways Program that was announced April 2, 2018. This industry-leading pilot development program is designed to assist two FedEx Express feeder operators with the recruitment and retention of pilots who wish to develop their skills and experiences to eventually qualify for pilot opportunities at FedEx Express.

Source : https://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom POSTAL NEWS
No 87 -2018

Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector


AusPost reports $134M profit and e-commerce growth for FY18. October 26,  2018.

UPU’s Member Countries Agree To Solve Remuneration Issue. October 25, 2018.

Statement: NALC opposes State Department decision to leave UPU. October 23, 2018.
UK online shoppers spend almost £300 making purchases online at Christmas. October 23, 2018.
DHL supports Lindex to stay in fashion. October 22 , 2018.   

AusPost reports $134M profit and e-commerce growth for FY18

October 26, 2018
Australia Post has released its annual report, summarising its financial, social and environmental activities for the period 1 July 2017 to 20 June 2018.
John Stanhope, Australia Post Chairman, said the postal service company delivered a quality community service while performing commercially and earning a profit that can be re-invested in its business for the benefit of all Australians.
“The underpinning theme of the year was, again, the ongoing transformation of Australia Post from being primarily a letters-focused business into an e-commerce delivery business,” said Stanhope.
“This shift in our core business is evident in the fact that this year we enjoyed double-digit growth in parcels volumes (as more Australians shopped online), while recording double-digit declines in the volume of letters that we deliver.
“The fact that we have managed the operational and cultural changes associated with this transformation, while maintaining profitability and customer service performance, is a triumph of strategic planning and implementation. And, most importantly, this shift has been achieved while staying true to our original purpose.
“Australia Post has always been the organisation that connects Australians to each other and the world – and that still remains the case today,” he said.
Stanhope said that Group CEO and Managing Director, Christine Holgate, joined the business in October 2017, and since her arrival Australia Post has embarked on a significant strategic review of the company.
“I am pleased to share that Australia Post reported a full-year profit after
tax of $134 million for the 2018 financial year, which is up 41 per cent on our profit result last year. Excluding the benefit of property items, pre-tax profit was up 280 per cent, from $19 million to $72 million,” said Holgate.
“This result was underpinned by strong parcel volume growth, both domestically (up 10 per cent) and internationally (up 19 per cent) – and a range of efficiency measures across our operational and support functions.
“Together, this helped offset the impact of an 11 per cent volume decline in our important letters business. Once again, this year, we either met or exceeded all of the prescribed performance standards that underpin our community service obligations.
“Importantly, we maintained broad community access to our network, via 4,356 post offices (in excess of our target of 4,000) and delivered 98.5 per cent of letters on time or early (ahead of our 94 per cent target).
“The double-digit shifts in both letter and parcel volumes this year underline the continuing operational and cultural transformation of our business – from being primarily a letters-focused business into a competitive delivery and service business, at the cutting edge of e-commerce.
“Around 82 per cent of Australia’s e-commerce is facilitated by Australia Post and last year we managed 376 million financial transactions,” she said.
According to Holgate, Australia Post’s strategic review highlighted several growth opportunities to improve its customer service, operational efficiencies and ongoing sustainability practices.
The business contributes $6 billion to the national economy. 

Source : http://www.trailermag.com.au/news/article
UPU’s Member Countries Agree To Solve Remuneration Issue

October 25, 2018
The Universal Postal Union’s Director General Bishar A. Hussein said today that the organisation was doing everything possible to solve the matter of the remuneration rates known as terminal dues.
Speaking about the fast-track negotiations UPU was formulating, he said, “I am glad to inform you that, this week, members agreed on a proposal to adjust the timelines on the discussion on the remuneration related subject with a view to coming up with a proposal to the Council of Administration by the April 2019 session.”
Since 1969, the designated operator that sends a letter-post item to another country remunerates the destination Post for processing and delivering that item. This system of remuneration is known as terminal dues.
Mr. Hussein, who was speaking during the plenary session of the Council of Administration, also reiterated his intention to meet with the United States to further discuss the matter and he said he hoped to resolve the matter amicably. “I would urge the US, and all members, to exercise flexibility while discussing this matter,” he added.
In a letter received on 17th October, UPU was informed by the Government of the United States of America that it intends to withdraw from the organization. The decision is to be effective one year after the day on which the notice was received.

Source : https://postandparcel.info/98715/news


Statement: NALC opposes State Department decision to leave UPU

October 23, 2018
Statement from NALC President Fredric Rolando:
NALC Opposes State Department Decision to Leave UPU

The U.S. State Department’s announced last week that the U.S. will withdraw from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) after a special meeting of the UPU failed to adopt pricing policies (so-called terminal dues) advocated by the United States at the urging of private delivery companies (i.e., UPS and FedEx).  The proposals were outlined in an August 2018 Memorandum (link https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-secretary-state-secretary-treasury-secretary-homeland-security-postmaster-general-chairman-postal-regulatory-commission/), just a few weeks before the September 2018 meeting of the 192-nation UPU in Ethiopia.  The private companies have complained that the UPU terminal dues rules results in business going to the USPS by offering below-cost delivery to the U.S. – especially from China.
NALC opposes the decision to withdrawal from the UPU – the problems identified by the August memorandum are best solved through multilateral diplomacy. Leaving the UPU could have unintended negative consequences on American citizens and businesses and hurt the Postal Service financially.  This is certainly what is driving the private shippers, which are targeting the Postal Service’s $2.7 billion in international mail revenue.

Background
The UPU was already moving forward with measures to eliminate the U.S. Postal Service’s losses on inbound small packages resulting from the terminal dues system.  (Terminal dues are the fees postal operators pay each other to deliver international letters and small packages.)  Based on changes adopted by the last UPU Congress in 2016, China’s country status was already changed (it was removed from the poorest developing country status that had allowed it to pay the lowest rates in the past) and a series of terminal dues increases on e-packets (small parcels) were implemented -- rates are increasing 13% annually starting in 2019 and continuing through 2021. The goal is to eliminate any Postal Service losses on inbound international mail that unfairly subsidizes overseas sellers.

A uniform system of terminal dues – like that provided by the UPU -- serves to promote universal service in the same way that uniform domestic postage rates benefit all Americans, rural and urban alike. Terminal dues make possible the benefits of universal service on a global scale.
The UPU is the United Nations agency that allows 192 countries to provide universal postal services worldwide. It allows Americans living overseas to send letters and packages back home and for their families to reach them at affordable rates.  It provides the infrastructure for the transport and exchange of letters, e-packets and packages that benefits all Americans and their businesses – including payment systems, automated processing systems and advanced electronic data (AED) for customs officials.

Pulling out of the UPU would deny ourselves access to this infrastructure and threaten the world’s invaluable system of universal postal services. This would raise costs for consumers and reduce access for millions of American families with overseas ties – and have unpredictable impacts on international mailers. For that reason, the International Mailers Advisory Group, a trade association of international shippers, also opposes exiting the UPU.

Although the State Department announcement indicated a willingness to rescind the withdrawal if bilateral and multilateral negotiations succeed, making a threat to leave makes the success of those negotiations unlikely.  Threats are not conducive to diplomacy.

It is not practical to negotiate bilateral agreements with 191 other countries – and it certainly cannot be done within a year. It makes much more sense to go to the next UPU Congress in 2020 and continue to pursue our goals on a multilateral basis in a way that will preserve universal service.
Staying in the UPU gives us the mechanism and leverage to continue the progress made in 2016, which included the adoption of an integrated product plan that is being used to fight the international shipment of opioids with the transfer of AED (advanced electronic data) technology to developing country postal operators. Increasing the provision of AED on international shipments is part of our government’s plan, as required by the recently adopted STOP Act, to combat the importation of illicit opioids into the United States.

Sadly, this UPU policy, and the August memorandum that proceeded it, was developed to serve the interests of large private companies such as UPS and FedEx. It emerged from the White House Domestic Policy Council and was hidden from public view.  Neither the August memorandum nor last week’s announcement was presented to the Advisory Committee of the International Postal and Delivery Services (IPoDS) by the State Department -- as intended by law. In fact, the IPoDS has not met since November 2017.

Source : https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates


UK online shoppers spend almost £300 making purchases online at Christmas

October 23, 2018
UK online shoppers spend on average almost £300 (£292) purchasing goods online at Christmas*, according to research commissioned by Royal Mail.
Almost a third of online shoppers (30 per cent) start making their Christmas purchases during or before October. However, the majority of online shopping for Christmas takes place between 15th November and 13th December.
The research also revealed that men spend on average £304 online shopping at Christmas, compared to women who spend £271 each. Two in five online shoppers spent more in 2017 than 2016.
Online shoppers’ most popular purchases are clothes (54 per cent), books (46 per cent), CDs/DVDs/computer games (42 per cent), toiletries/make-up (32 per cent) and toys (31 per cent). The average gift costs £42 and the average number of gifts purchased online at Christmas per person is seven.
The main reasons people choose to shop online at Christmas are convenience-related: being able to shop from the comfort of their home (68 per cent), the ability to shop any time of the day (63 per cent) and the ease of comparing prices (48 per cent). The device of choice for shopping is laptops (59 per cent) followed by smartphones (34 per cent).
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said “It’s the most wonderful time of the year but buying Christmas presents can be a stressful experience. With the convenience that online shopping provides, we are seeing more and more people make purchases online during the festive season. At Royal Mail, we’re here to help consumers and businesses prepare for Christmas wherever they are in the UK.”

Source : https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases



DHL supports Lindex to stay in fashion
October 22 , 2018
DHL Global Forwarding manages freight distribution across the whole network of Lindex' stores and their e-commerce offering.

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has assumed all freight operations for Lindex. The Swedish fashion chain decided to engage DHL Global Forwarding based on the company's effective vendor communication, strong sustainability agenda, and cost-efficient solutions across all of the fashion company's active markets.  Lindex' fashion assortment is available in around 490 stores across 18 Markets as well as via e-commerce in 30 countries.
"Because of the high number of origins and destinations, Lindex needs a provider who can be a true partner, fully engaged and committed to developing solutions that work. We have a proven expertise across all transport modes and logistics services ranging from Air and Ocean Freight to Rail Freight for FCL and LCL as well as Customs Clearance. We are thrilled to be taking over Lindex' cargo operations again," declares Chris Arnold, Head of Operations - ISC Nordics & CEE of DHL Global Forwarding.
DHL Global Forwarding manages freight consolidation and distribution to Lindex. Cargo must be shipped from 240 factories managed by 140 suppliers around the world to one of three regional distribution centers in Sweden, the Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia. DHL Global Forwarding supports Lindex on all issues relating International Supply Chain especially with focus on Purchase Order Management, Consolidation
Services, Supply Chain Visibility and Management Reporting. Thereby DHL oversees the ocean, air and rail transport for full and less than container load (FCL and LCL) of the entirety of the Swedish fashion chain's cargo volumes from Asia to Europe and the Middle East.
"Thanks to DHL's experience, know-how and excellent customer service, we have been able to maintain our position in the market through enhanced visibility, continued supply chain development and seamless operations at origin and destination," states Lindex' Maria Fransson, Transportation & Customs Manager of the partnership. "Working with DHL again provides us with a high degree of a more reliable supply chain. Due to this optimization we achieve cost savings and are able to focus attention on other areas of our network for improvement, such as growing the digital side of the business."

Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media-relations/press-releases/2018