POSTAL NEWS
No 104 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Swiss Post delivers more parcels at Christmastime than ever before. December 26, 2019.
UPS Predicts Record-Breaking National Returns Day.
December 26, 2019.
Japan Post CEO considers resigning. December 20, 2019.
USPS, CBP share shipping data to track opioids.
December 20, 2019.
Steps forward with DHL. December 6, 2019.
Swiss Post delivers more parcels at Christmastime than ever before
December 26, 2019
A sterling effort by staff and by belt conveyors which have run almost continuously: Swiss Post delivered over 18,6 million parcels from 25 November until just before Christmas, which is a new record. All employees were on deck to handle the huge volumes, with staff working numerous extra shifts to ensure that parcels could be placed under the Christmas tree in time. The new regional parcel center in Ticino also contributed to the success.
Swiss Post has set a new record. Between 25 November and 24 December 2019, its staff delivered over 18,6 million parcels – more than ever before during a similar period. Compared to 2018*, the volume of parcels was 8,8 percent higher. The influx of parcels was driven by the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days, which led to new record weekly volumes for Swiss Post as early as November. And the remaining parcel volumes in the run-up to Christmas once again saw an increase – proof that more and more people in Switzerland are shopping online for their Christmas gifts. In the last week before Christmas, staff delivered close to a million parcels on peak days and even cracked the one million mark on 17 December. The belt conveyors at the parcel centers in Daillens (VD), Härkingen (SO), Frauenfeld (TG), Urdorf (ZH) and Cadenazzo (TI) ran almost around the clock.
Tireless efforts by Swiss Post employees made this special achievement possible. For example, parcel centers operated on Saturdays from 30 November until 21 December to sort the huge volumes. And delivery staff delivered parcels to households on the Saturdays after Black Friday and immediately before Christmas – without any extra costs being passed on to customers. Mail carriers have also been very busy over the past few weeks. They delivered an average of 16 million consignments each day that were processed at letter centers. This figure includes 106,000 small goods consignments from abroad. Over two thirds of these came from Asia.
Cadenazzo brings intended relief
The record volumes are pleasing for Swiss Post. But competition remains fierce in the parcel market. Swiss Post wants to hold on to its position as market leader into the future and to differentiate itself from its competitors in terms of quality. This will require big investments in infrastructure, given the large parcel volumes. Swiss Post is on track in this respect. The first regional parcel center in Cadenazzo has been operating since October and has brought much-needed relief for the center in Härkingen. Swiss Post is also continuing to invest in sorting capacity. Next year, it will open three further regional parcel centers in Ostermundigen (BE), Vétroz (VS) and Untervaz (GR), costing more than CHF 190 million francs in total. The new centers are necessary given the sheer influx of parcels. Annual volumes have increased every year since 2013. This will also be the case in 2019, with the 140 million parcel mark likely to be broken, a significant increase on the 138 million parcels that were sent in 2018. Swiss Post will announce the exact numbers for 2019 parcel volumes in mid-January 2020.
*↑ Swiss Post has adjusted its counting method. It now communicates actual parcel volumes, rather than the number of sorting events. The approximately 25 million parcels (= sorting events) from 2018’s holiday volumes correspond to around 17 million actual parcels. Since a parcel is sorted in several parcel centers depending on the transport route, the number of sorting events is higher than the actual parcel volume.
“2 x Christmas” campaign: solidarity with those in need
Supporting those affected by poverty, making others happy, sharing your own prosperity with others: that’s the aim of the “2 x Christmas” solidarity campaign which began on 24 December. For 23 years, the Swiss Red Cross, broadcaster SRG SSR, Swiss Post and retailer Coop (the latter for the last three years) have collected donated goods parcels for people who are affected by poverty. The collection period runs from Christmas Eve until the beginning of January 2020. Parcels containing non-perishable food and hygiene products and toiletries can be handed in free of charge at any Swiss Post branch.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2019
UPS Predicts Record-Breaking National Returns Day
December 26, 2019
UPS expects to process a record 1.9 million returns Jan. 2, 2020, up 26% from the prior year.
This will mark a seventh consecutive record, illustrating how e-commerce continues transforming shopping patterns.
UPS offers convenience and transparency in the returns process, benefitting both consumers and retailers.
UPS (NYSE: UPS) predicts a seventh consecutive record-breaking National Returns Day as consumers send back holiday orders ranging from ill-fitting sweaters to duplicate kitchen gadgets. On Jan. 2, consumers are expected to deposit 1.9 million returns packages into the UPS network – a 26% spike from last year’s peak returns day.
This process is a change from years past, when consumers would rush to physical retailers the day after Christmas and stand in long lines to make returns. UPS has helped rewrite that narrative by offering both retailers and consumers tools to make the returns process flexible, transparent and profitable. Now, consumers make purchases with returns in mind, and, according to the UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study, 73% of online shoppers say the returns experience affects their likelihood to buy from a retailer again.
“For retailers, a seamless returns process is essential to keeping and growing business,” said Kevin Warren, UPS chief marketing officer. “We proudly offer businesses of all sizes – from global players to small and medium-sized merchants – the sophisticated returns services that today’s consumers demand.”
U.S. consumers can take their UPS Returns® packages to:
More than 36,000 UPS drop boxes for smaller packages with labels.
UPS delivery drivers, who can directly receive a return package with a label.
More than 4,800 The UPS Store® locations, which in addition to UPS Access Point® services, can help with full-service packing, shipping and returns needs.
More than 14,000 UPS Access Point® locations, including Michaels, Advance Auto, CVS Pharmacy and The UPS Store® locations, which accept pre-labeled UPS packages.
Source: https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom
Japan Post CEO considers resigning
December 20, 2019
Masatsugu Nagato, the chief executive of the former state-owned postal and financial services group Japan Post Holdings Co. said he is considering resigning in the wake of an investigation that uncovered more than 12,000 cases of suspected improper sales of insurance products at two subsidiaries in the five years through March 2019, reports The Japan Times.
“Regarding management responsibility, I will announce it at an appropriate time,” said Nagato on Wednesday at a news conference in Tokyo. “There is a broad range of stakeholders, and each has a different responsibility, so the management will need to discuss the matter thoroughly.”
A company panel probed 183,000 suspected cases of improper sales at Japan Post Insurance Co. and Japan Post Co. The report found that of those, violations of a law or in-house rules are suspected in 12,836 cases.
It said legal violations were confirmed in 48 cases, while 622 were found to have breached in-house rules.
Some salespeople falsely and unlawfully told customers that their new contract could not be terminated for six months, while others pressured customers to delay terminating their contract, in violation of internal rules, Japan Post Holdings said.
Japan Post Insurance sold the products at over 20,000 post offices nationwide.
The government owns a 57 % stake in Japan Post Holdings, which was privatised in 2007.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118009/news/post
USPS, CBP share shipping data to track opioids
December 20, 2019
A year into an effort to close a critical gap in international drug trafficking through the mail, the U.S. Postal Service is gaining some ground in sharing data on international shipments with Customs and Border Protection, according to a government watchdog study.
Despite that progress, the USPS still needs to step its efforts up to meet the requirements of the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act (STOP Act) signed into law in October 2018, according to a Government Accountability Office report issued Dec. 18.
USPS has lagged in its ability to provide CBP with advanced electronic data (AED) on incoming international shipments as part of an effort to track shipments of opioids including Fentanyl. China has been named by U.S. officials as top originator of international Fentanyl and illicit opioid shipments.
Independent commercial shippers, such as FedEx and DHL, implemented technology years ago that provides CBP with AED to sniff out potentially risky packages in their systems.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VwnfG_8yofYTESUFNbX-Xd-uR1mkrmKz
22nd AIC Report with Audited Accounts.
Steps forward with DHL
December 6, 2019
On November 25, the German National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals signed a renewed protocol covering the relations between UNI, ITF and Deutsche Post DHL for another 2 years. The protocol emphasizes regular dialogue based on a set of key principles.
UNI General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, said:
“We’ve been in dialogue with DHL for several years and welcome the renewal of this historic protocol. The protocol makes clear that DHL will respect the OECD Guidelines and rights of workers to organise, and for UNI this is what it is all about. DHL is one of the world’s largest employers and these commitments are essential for workers in those countries where the laws and practices don’t work to protect these rights.”
The protocol, which was first signed in July 2016, sets out to protect workers’ rights and improve dialogue between the company and unions representing DHL workers worldwide.
For UNI, the dialogue with DHL has opened the door to a better relationship between its affiliates and the company worldwide. Last month, the Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja DHL Supply Chain union in Malaysia, achieved recognition from DHL Supply Chain (M). A memorandum of understanding with the company allows the union to expand its activities and talk to workers in preparation of a first collective agreement. This is the second union recognized for DHL workers in Malaysia.
Head of UNI Post and Logistics, Cornelia Broos, said:
“I’ve been meeting with DHL workers around the world for some time. Most recently we held our first DHL Africa Alliance Meeting in Nairobi where we had the oportunity to bring together 10 unions organising more than 3000 workers in DHL from 10 different African countries. I know that things aren’t always perfect on the ground, and we have some open issues in a few countries, but this protocol means that there is a way to talk things through with the German management and that we have a pipeline for dialogue in both directions. It makes a difference. “
The Protocol is widely recognized as an innovative step by the German NCP to both support dialogue and to promote the Guidelines.
The OECD Protocol 2020 contains a more concrete process for raising issues, and embraces a policy of pro-active engagement in order to avoid problems before they arise.
Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news
POSTAL NEWS
No 103 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
New rate of postal rates can save Pos Malaysia.
December 25, 2019.
Has La Poste fallen on its head? December 23, 2019.
The family that sorts mail together, stays together.
December 21, 2019.
Croatian Post launched a pilot-project with Gideon Brothers. December 20, 2019.
FEDEX on fiscal 2020: “A year of continued significant challenges and changes”. December 20, 2019.
New rate of postal rates can save Pos Malaysia
December 25, 2019
Bernama recently reported on a government decision that has indirectly agreed to raise new tariff rates for Pos Malaysia Bhd.
It was a good decision that Pos Malaysia welcomed after a long time to fight the tariff hike for the company's survival.
The decision is important to ensure Pos Malaysia remains relevant and able to compete in the current digital industry revolution.
A Bernama article quoted the source as saying, however, Pos Malaysia has not yet received official details on the new postal tariff rate and its implementation date.
However, the postal service provider has received a confirmation letter regarding the approval of the tariff hike.
The approval is certainly a relief after a long wait for a new tariff to enable it to remain competitive in serving the people in a challenging economic environment.
A big thank you to the government and the Minister of Communications and Mulltimedia Gobind Singh Deo for listening to Pos Malaysia's voice calling for a change in the postal tariff rate as it has happened overseas.
It is not about Pos Malaysia alone, it is the fate of its thousands of employees who stay under the company when traditional mail-based business is no longer a priority, but demand for it is still high.
The rate hike is seen as a catalyst for the company's restructuring without "sacrificing" its employees' future.
The explosion of digital technology witnessed Utusan Melayu which has been around for centuries, finally had to be closed, as well as publishing companies NSTP had to downsize its operations, which saw more than 500 employees affected.
The good and proper steps the government has taken have raised some question marks. If it is true the new tariff has been approved by the government, but why no further details?
Similarly, the date of its execution is still a question mark. According to the report, Pos Malaysia is expected to make an announcement on the rate change soon, but when?
Pos Malaysia is currently facing a 'serious injury' and is in need of 'immediate' treatment to ensure the company is stable.
For the record, for the financial year ended March 31, 2019, Pos Malaysia Bhd recorded a net loss of RM141.13 million compared to the previous financial year of RM29.03 million net profit.
Accordingly, the parties concerned especially the government immediately approved the implementation of the new tariff rate as soon as possible.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should play a key role in tackling the issue.
It is in line with the establishment of a special committee in March this year by the MCMC aimed at strengthening the postal and courier industry in the country.
This struggle is not only for the survival of Pos Malaysia Bhd, but more than the fortunes of thousands of jobs so that they are not only affected, but also enjoy a more practical wage rate with the country's economic situation.
Source : https://www.malaysiakini.com/news
Has La Poste fallen on its head?
December 23, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019, the press told us through several articles from different newspapers that the postal staff wondered about the advisability of buying the retail network of branches of the bank HSBC!
This announcement is surprising for more than one reason: no information internally, but leaks organized externally.
Surprising also this announcement of alliance between a merchant bank with a sulfurous reputation and the Banque Postale, called citizen bank and whose raison d'être, we are told, is the public good, the guarantee of banking accessibility to all.
Still surprising this announcement of the takeover of 270 bank branches while La Poste continues to close or transform its officesin both rural and urban areas. La Poste would buy a network of branches while inexorable digitalization would lead to almost 50,000 job cuts in the banking sector!
Finally surprising this bulimia of growth while the wedding cake "CNP and Banque Postale" is not yet out of the oven!
And what does Bercy think?
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/
The family that sorts mail together, stays together
December 21, 2019
When Cora Andres started work at Australia Post, 31 years ago, it was at Melbourne GPO — reading envelopes and flicking them into designated slots for every city street and lane.
It was ‘‘very quiet’’, she says, and a world away from her workplace today, where giant conveyor belts speed items across the hangar-like Melbourne Gateway Facility, one of the city's biggest mail centres.
Scanners read barcodes and addresses, and direct each item into containers for the right country, town and suburb. Forklifts shuttle cages full of mail bags and packages across the floor.
‘‘It’s very much easier now, because of the technology,’’ Mrs Andres says.
But it's no less busy: the centre handles more than 250,000 packages and letters every 24 hours.
Happily, humans have not been replaced by robots: Mrs Andres, 77, and her daughter Gladys Lawang, 46, are among more than 400 sorters, customs staff and agricultural inspectors (and 12 sniffer dogs) at this centre alone who ensure (most of) our mail gets delivered, be it to Moscow or Melton.
Mrs Lawang says they need to be alert and have good eyesight, to ensure that each item that speeds past them on the inductor (conveyor belt) is flipped barcode-up so it can be scanned.
They have to manually sort bigger items such as TVs and microwaves. If the machine can’t read an item address, they type it in, and if they can’t decipher it out, it's flicked on to the dead letter office in Port Melbourne.
George Sardelis, a shift production manager at the centre, said this week has been the year’s busiest, with volume up 35 per cent on a normal week.
Australians have until close of business on Monday to send a parcel or card to arrive at 80 per cent of Australian destinations on Christmas Eve. However you must pay for Express Post.
As well as her daughter Gladys, Mrs Andres also works with husband, Fortunato, 82, at the Airport centre, and sons Hylven, 51, and Joel, 49, and Gladys’ husband Edgardo, 51, all work for Australia Post.
Some people would struggle to work with relatives without strangling them, but Mrs Andres, an immigrant from the Philippines, loves it.
She said that previously, ‘‘you had no time to visit [each other] and now we are working together, we’re closer.’’
‘‘I didn’t have much time to see them,’’ confirms her daughter Gladys. ‘‘Now I’m enjoying working with my parents.’’
The Airport facility mostly closes on Christmas Day and Mr and Mrs Andres are hosting their three children and their partners and nine grandchildren for lunch.
They will have traditional Filipino fare such as roast pork on a wood fire spit, noodles and sticky rice cakes.
On Boxing Day it’s back to work for Cora and Gladys, for their afternoon shifts, side by side as always.
Source : https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria
Croatian Post launched a pilot-project with Gideon Brothers
December 20, 2019
Robots in the service of humans
Croatian Post introduced Gideon Brothers’ pallet-carrying autonomous mobile robots to their new sorting center outside of Zagreb. The pilot strongly supports the growth of the company’s core business, as the central pillar of their "Post 2022" strategy. By introducing robots into their operations, Croatian Post is following Industry 4.0 trends by connecting digital and internet-based systems to establish communication between machines, people, and product and business systems.
Robotic systems reduce the costs of providing services, shorten the service cycle, and increase efficiency. Robots do not replace humans; they are their tools and help achieve goals that would have been impossible to imagine earlier. This principle is what guides the Croatian robotics and AI company Gideon Brothers. Along with a great business solution, this principle was also what guided Croatian Post’s decision to launch a pilot project using autonomous pallet-carrier robots in their new sorting center.
The pilot project will be implemented over the next four months in the high-rack warehouse and the sorting facility. Employees who will work with the robots will be trained during this period. In Croatian Post’s warehouse, the robots will assist with the picking and transport of mail, and in the sorting facility, will transport mail from vehicles to processing locations that prepare mail and packages for delivery.
The self-driving logistics robots can carry loads of up 800 kilograms, and they can safely maneuver around people, equipment and other moving machines. Its autonomy technology is based on visual perception that combines deep learning (AI) with stereoscopic cameras to create a new generation of robotic vision.
The Croatian Post sees this project as a sign that it’s open to new opportunities brought by technology that can provide a competitive advantage.
Source: https://www.posteurop.org/
FEDEX on fiscal 2020: “A year of continued significant challenges and changes”
December 20, 2019
FedEx has announced its Q2 results – reporting a 40% drop in fiscal second-quarter profits. Domestic Express parcel volumes fell 4.1% compared to last year, while Ground shipments rose 3.5%. Operating profit margins in FedEx’s Ground business decreased to 6.7%, down from 12.4% in the first quarter.
“Fiscal 2020 is a year of continued significant challenges and changes for FedEx, particularly in the quarter just ended due to the compressed shipping season,” said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman and chief executive officer. “We have significantly enhanced our e-commerce capabilities with strategic initiatives including year-round seven-day FedEx Ground delivery, enhanced large package capabilities and the insourcing of FedEx SmartPost packages. These changes have been well-received by the marketplace as reflected in our record volumes this peak season. While we have experienced some higher-than-expected expenses this quarter, we forecast FedEx Ground operating margins to rebound to the teens in our fiscal fourth quarter as the bow wave of costs for these changes is absorbed.”
“Thanks to over 490,000 FedEx team members for their hard work and dedication to our Purple Promise of making every FedEx experience outstanding.”
Operating results declined due to weak global economic conditions, increased FedEx Ground costs from expanded service offerings, the loss of business from a large customer, a continuing mix shift to lower-yielding services and a more competitive pricing environment. In addition, the later timing of the Thanksgiving holiday resulted in the shifting of Cyber Week into December, which negatively impacted the quarter’s results. These factors were partially offset by lower variable incentive compensation expenses and increased yields at FedEx Freight. Net income includes a tax benefit of $133 million ($0.51 per diluted share) from the recognition of certain foreign tax loss carryforwards.
FedEx Express recorded asset impairment charges of $66 million ($50 million, net of tax, or $0.19 per diluted share) related to the permanent retirement of 10 Airbus A310-300 aircraft and 12 related engines. During the remainder of fiscal 2020, FedEx Express will make further network capacity changes by reducing flight hours. The company continues to evaluate if additional aircraft retirements are warranted.
“Our strategies are clear: To develop the premier e-commerce portfolio in the U.S., improve international profitability, enhance our market-leading revenue quality and continue to optimize our U.S. and international networks,” said Rajesh Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief operating officer. “We are also taking immediate actions to address the short-term challenges facing our business, including eliminating multiple international flights to reflect reduced global air freight demand. These actions combined with benefits from the TNT integration should allow FedEx Express to enter fiscal 2021 with profit improvement underway.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118013/news/e-commerce
POSTAL NEWS
No 01 -2020
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Management changes at Japan Post over improper sales of insurance policies. January 2, 2020.
Smog forces Australia Post to suspend services across Canberra and ACT. January 2, 2020.
Saudia Group launches logistics services for Saudi airports. January 2, 2020.
Three 2020 Resolutions for Washington on the Drug Epidemic. December 27, 2019.
Special End-of-Career Allowance and Part-Time Furnished for Seniors, FO Com obtains their renewal until March 2021! December 24, 2019.
Management changes at Japan Post over improper sales of insurance policies
January 2, 2020
Hiroya Masuda, a former minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, will replace current Japan Post CEO Masatsugu Nagato on 6 January.
Three executives have stepped down from the company in the wake of an investigation that uncovered more than 12,000 cases of suspected improper sales of insurance products at two subsidiaries in the five years through March 2019.
Japan Post Insurance Co Ltd President Mitsuhiko Uehira will be replaced by Tetsuya Senda, deputy president of the company, while Japan Post President Kunio Yokoyama will be taken over by Kazuhide Kinugawa, senior managing executive officer of Japan Post Holdings.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118038/news/post
Smog forces Australia Post to suspend services across Canberra and ACT
January 2 , 2020
Australia Post has indefinitely suspended its services in Canberra and across the ACT as the city's air quality remains more than 10 times above the level considered hazardous.
Local health authorities said levels peaked at more than 20 times hazardous levels on Wednesday, with smoke expected to linger in the coming days.
As high temperatures trap smog in the air, Australia Post took the decision to cancel deliveries from Thursday.
"The safety of our people is our top priority, and with hazardous smoke conditions continuing across ACT we are suspending all postie and van deliveries until further notice," a statement read.
"We encourage customers with inquiries about their mail to check the Tracker Tool or contact us on 13 POST.
"We apologise for any inconvenience, however, we must do what is right for our people. We thank customers for their patience and understanding."
Air quality
Hazardous levels are normally considered to be at an air quality index of 200 or above.
Air quality stations around Canberra recording levels between 2300 to 2800.
Deliveries in a number of areas across Victoria, NSW and Western Australia have also been affected by bushfires, while 10 post offices have been closed.
"Safety is our main priority, and we are reaching out to our people and supporting them through this tough time," Australia Post said.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, and will provide updates as information is made available."
ACT waits for relief
Canberra's air quality is the worst out of any major city in the world due to smoke from bushfires along the NSW South Coast.
A global air quality index ranked Canberra's air worse than New Delhi in India or Lahore in Pakistan.
There are out of control fires burning near Kosciuszko National Park to Canberra's west, and the fires along the coast to the east.
Bureau forecaster Abrar Shabren said this meant whatever the wind change, smoke would still be blown across the territory.
"It will persist over the next couple of days. We will see a change probably tomorrow," he said.
ACT Health has urged Canberrans to stay indoors and avoid physical activity outdoors.
Source : https://7news.com.au/business/australia-post
Saudia Group launches logistics services for Saudi airports
January 2, 2020
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia Group) has launched the Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) company, a new division that will provide logistics and ground handling services at Saudi airports.
Omar Talal Hariri, SAL chief executive, commented: “SAL will improve the quality of logistics operations and support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision towards transforming the country into a global logistics hub [capable of] handling all types of cargo and shipping operations.”
Sami Sindi, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, added: “SAL will contribute directly towards enhancing and developing the logistics infrastructure, including all types of cargo platforms, warehouses and equipment, as well as e-commerce cargo and shipping facilities.”
Sindi also explained that SAL will “create more economic and development opportunities through forging strategic partnerships with different local and global logistics service providers”.
The launch of SAL was announced at a ceremony in Riyadh, which was attended by Saudi Arabia’s governor of customs authority, Ahmad Al-Haqbani; Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation; Anef Abanomi, president of Saudi Post; Sami Sindi, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines; the directors of government agencies working at Saudi airports; chief executives of the companies and strategic units within the Saudia Group; and cargo and aviation transport experts.
Source : https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines
Three 2020 Resolutions for Washington on the Drug Epidemic
December 27, 2019
The opioid crisis continues to tear at the fabric of American society 14 months after widely supported bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Trump. Some progress has been made, though much more is needed. And without near-term action from Washington, the situation could get worse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug abuse deaths have declined 4.7 percent from 2017 to May 2019, yet the numbers remain staggering. For the 12-month period that ended May 2019, CDC reported 67,071 deaths compared with 70,237 deaths in 2017. Opioids are involved in two-thirds of drug abuse deaths, taking more lives than car crashes or shootings.
Many solutions are required including reducing needless opioid prescriptions and strengthening treatment programs. There is also a vital international law enforcement component. The U.S. Department of Justice reports, “China is the principal source country of fentanyl-like substances and other synthetic opioids, producing most illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances that reach U.S. users.”
To tackle this, Washington should promptly do the following.
—Enact Legislation Banning Fentanyl Analogues by February 6. There is a loophole in federal law by which drug traffickers can make minor structural modifications to fentanyl and potentially face lower penalties than if they imported, distributed or manufactured the base drug. In 2018, the Department of Justice addressed this, implementing an emergency order that treats trafficking in copycat products the same as trafficking in fentanyl. The order, issued under the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, expires on February 6, 2020.
The best way to address this issue is for Congress to enact legislation by February 6 that removes any doubt that Justice can permanently make such classifications. The Justice Department warned the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 4, 2019, that without legislation, “the Department would enter unchartered legal and regulatory terrain. It is unknown whether a newly encountered fentanyl-like substance, having just been allowed to lapse from the class scheduling regime, could later be quickly subject to temporary control.”
At a July 1, 2019, news conference, Amanda Liskamm, the department’s director of Opioid Enforcement and Prevention, was more direct, saying, “Prosecutors will undoubtedly be hindered, and drug traffickers will undoubtedly be helped.”
—Full Court Press to Immediately Inspect China’s Mail. A central provision of the 2018 drug legislation is a requirement that all incoming mail and packages from China, effective January 1, 2019, have advanced electronic data (AED). This information, which includes the sender and recipient’s address and the declared contents, enables suspicious mail to be identified and seized more quickly. However, 15 percent of mail and packages from China still do not have AED.
As part of continuing trade and other discussions, the Trump administration should press China to make sure that its postal service, China Post, has AED on all out-bound U.S. mail and packages. This is the most direct and clear way to ensure compliance.
—Push for More Stringent International Mail Standards. International mail standards are set by the Universal Postal Union, which is affiliated with the United Nations. This past September the Department of State and Peter Navarro, the president’s director of trade and manufacturing policy, secured a major victory at the UPU based on an eminently fair request: that foreign shippers will pay the same as U.S. ones for the services of the U.S. Postal Service.
Building off this, the United States should push for stringent AED and customs standards at the UPU when the organization holds its annual four-year conference this August. AED technology is readily available to ensure better postal inspections. And, with drug traffickers likely to improvise and use additional shipping points than China, such an international agreement is timely.
The fight against opioids and drug abuse deaths requires many actions and vigilance. At this time of year especially, it is important to renew resolve on this important fight.
Source : https://www.insidesources.com/
Special End-of-Career Allowance and Part-Time Furnished for Seniors, FO Com obtains their renewal until March 2021!
December 24, 2019
The Special End-of-Career Allowance (CBSA) system is primarily intended for civil servants benefiting from active service and civil servants who are parents of three children or of a disabled child.
Regarding the Part-time Furnished Seniors (TPAS), if the Post Office workers were guaranteed to be able to benefit from it until December 2020, the uncertainty remained for the rest…
The obstinacy of FO Com activists ended up paying, they are already working for after March 2021 and remain available to help you with your efforts.
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/POSTAL NEWS
No 02 -2020
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Amazon delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally in 2019. January 2, 2020.
Takeback Thursday: Returns expected to increase by 72 per cent on first working day of the year. January 2. 2020.
Omniva delivered one and half million parcels to clients during the Christmas month. December 31, 2019.
The robots are taking over (Croatia).December 27, 2019.
Tentative Agreements reached for National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) units. December 23, 2019.
Amazon delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally in 2019
January 2, 2020
Amazon has announced that the number of items delivered with Prime Free One-Day and Prime Free Same-Day Delivery nearly quadrupled during the 2019 holiday season.
“This holiday season has been better than ever thanks to our customers and employees all around the world,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO.
Amazon’s worldwide and U.S.-only seasonal and year-end highlights are as follows:
More people tried Prime this holiday season than any previous year – in fact, in one week alone, more than 5 million new customers started Prime free trials or began paid memberships worldwide.
In 2019, Amazon’s dedicated last-mile delivery network delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally.
This holiday season, the number of items that were delivered with Prime Free One-Day and Prime Free Same-Day Delivery nearly quadrupled compared to the same time period last holiday season, making this Amazon’s fastest holiday yet.
Over 100 million items sold by independent third-party sellers – mostly small and medium-sized businesses – were shipped with Prime Free One-Day Delivery over the holidays in the U.S.
Millions more items were ordered to an Amazon Hub location during the holiday season than ever before.
60 % more customers shipped their holiday order to an Amazon pickup point this season compared to last year.
The top ten cities that used an Amazon Locker or Amazon Counter location this holiday were Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Berkeley (CA), Austin and Columbus.
The last delivery with Amazon’s ultra-fast delivery arrived on Christmas Eve at 11:59pm PT in Seattle, WA.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118041/news/e-commerce
Takeback Thursday: Returns expected to increase by 72 per cent on first working day of the year
January 2. 2020
On Thursday 2 January 2020 – Takeback Thursday – returns of online purchases are predicted to increase by 72 per cent compared to the average number of return parcels per day in December, according to Royal Mail. Takeback Thursday is the day that most Brits will return their unwanted and ill-fitting Christmas presents. With global reach and the leading enabler of ecommerce in the UK, Royal Mail is well placed to observe trends across the industry.
According to a study commissioned by Royal Mail, the average online shopper in the UK sends back an online purchase every month*. Three in five online shoppers would be unlikely to use a retailer again if they have a difficult returns experience. For that reason, it is very important to get the returns experience right first time.
Speed of refund is the most important element of the returns process for online shoppers (76 per cent). Clearly signposted returns information on the retailer’s website is also key (73 per cent) and shoppers want clear guidance about which returns labels to use (72 per cent).
Try before you buy
Almost six in ten (58 per cent) shoppers are more likely to use a retailer if they offer a 'try before you buy' service so it’s an important avenue to explore when adapting to customer needs. Over a third (35 per cent) of shoppers would purchase more items if a 'try before you buy' option was available from a retailer. Those aged 18-34 (47 per cent) are more likely to purchase more items if a service like this is available than those aged over 55 years old (just 22 per cent). One in two people that have not used such a service are open to trying it at some point.
Shoppers wary of items not looking and fitting how they appear online are naturally attracted to this service. Clothing (60 per cent) and footwear (42 per cent) are the categories people are most likely to use this service for, followed by electrical computing goods (37 per cent). Usage of ‘try before you buy’ has increased significantly for clothing since last year (52 per cent in 2018).
A spokesperson from Royal Mail said “With the festive season now over, January is the busiest time of the year for returns. Having a clear, user-friendly returns policy has never been more important. It is a vital part of the online shopping experience. For retailers, ensuring their returns experience is in line with consumers’ expectations is key. Over a third of shoppers would purchase more items if a 'try before you buy' option was available from a retailer, so it’s important to consider putting such a service at the heart of your returns offering.”
Source : https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases/royal-mail
Omniva delivered one and half million parcels to clients during the Christmas month
December 31, 2019
The most popular day for receiving parcels turned out to be 18 December, when nearly 90,000 people received a shipment.
Omniva operations manager Kristi Unt said that this year’s peak parcel-sending season went smoothly. “We had a record volume of parcels, but timely planning and thorough preparation ensured a peaceful Christmas this year as well,” said Unt, according to whom all parcels that were shipped correctly and on time reached their destination before the holidays. The most parcels were delivered to clients the week before Christmas, and using parcel machines that were filled and emptied several times a day.
In total, Omniva delivered more than 1.5 million parcels to clients in December. “If each parcel had had a different recipient then we would have delivered a parcel to at least each resident of Estonia in December,” said Unt. “In reality, the majority of shipments went to larger cities, but a significant portion of parcels was also shipped to rural areas.”
According to Unt, this year’s Christmas season was successful firstly thanks to all the clients who shipped their parcels on time and later picked them up quickly, but secondly also thanks to the committed employees who kept delivering the parcels even during the weekend before Christmas.
The company’s new logistics centre and the expanded parcelmachine network played an important role in tackling the record volumes as well.
Although the record parcel volumes are in December, according to Unt, the above average volumes also continue in January. For example, after the Christmas shopping and gift season an active period on the aftermarket starts as well as an increase in person-to-person shipping. “For instance, if a person gets a new winter jacket as a gift then often the old one is sent away to a new owner, be it a friend or someone found from a shopping portal. This trend is very welcome,” said Unt.
According to Omniva the parcel volumes grow nearly 20% each year. Trends show that a similar growth tempo will continue in the coming years.
Source : https://www.omniva.ee/
The robots are taking over (Croatia)
December 27, 2019
Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post) is trialling robots at its new logistics centre in Zagreb.
The pallet-carrying robots are being piloted in the high-rack warehouse and sorting facility. They will assist by picking and transporting mail, as well as transporting mail from vehicles to processing locations.
The robots are essentially autonomous vehicles, including features such as stereoscopic vision and AI learning.
Employees who work with the robots will receive specialised training.
Source : http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
Tentative Agreements reached for National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) units.
December 23, 2019
The American Postal Workers Union and U.S. Postal Service have come to tentative terms on Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) for the National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) contract and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) contracts, announced Support Services Director Steve Brooks.
Professional Postal Nurses Win Tentative Agreement on New Contract
After years of struggle to get a successor collective bargaining agreement, Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) reached an agreement subject to member ratification. The agreement provides retroactive salary increases of 2.4 percent for 2017, 2.9 percent for 2018, and 3.0 percent for 2019.
If ratified the agreement will run through 2023, with annual salary increases based on the increase in the Employment Cost Index (ECI). Unlike other postal collective bargaining agreement, nurses have traditionally received increases based on the ECI rather than the combination of COLA and general increases. The APWU and USPS will jointly review the current grievance process to determine whether any changes might reduce the complexities involved with one local union representing members in every State.
Separate from the tentative CBA, the NPPN and Postal Service agreed to a memorandum allowing for the hiring of 32 additional Occupational Health Nurses across the country.
IT/AS Tentatively Agrees Contract Extension
Subject to member ratification, the tentative IT/AS agreement will extend for eighteen months the Collective Bargaining Agreement that expired January 20, 2019. Negotiations have been ongoing since October 2018.
“This relatively short-term extension provides some benefits including work rule improvements now, with a quick return to negotiations early in 2020 for a longer-
term agreement when the Postal Service can give its full attention to IT/AS. We see this in everyone’s interest,” stated Director Brooks.
The extension agreement will expire on July 17, 2020.
Employees will receive retroactive general increases and two retroactive COLA increases.
The agreement also provides for a general increase effective January 18, 2020 and a COLA based on the March 2020 CPI.
The extension also upgrades the:
Accounting Specialist Senior from level 17 to level 18,
Property Control Specialist level 14 to level 16,
Procurement & Supply Assistant from level 13 to level 15,
Group Leader Administrative Clerk from level 10 to level 11, and
Administrative Clerk from level 9 to level 10.
There are also working condition changes: creating a career development program, enhancements to the 10/4 work schedules, grievance process improvements, and safety and health procedures improvements.
“All in all, I believe this to be a solid extension agreement and foundation upon which to build in continuing negotiations for a full agreement in the future,” stated Director Brooks.
The tentative agreements and ballots will be sent to members for ratification.
Source : https://apwu.org/news
No 104 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Swiss Post delivers more parcels at Christmastime than ever before. December 26, 2019.
UPS Predicts Record-Breaking National Returns Day.
December 26, 2019.
Japan Post CEO considers resigning. December 20, 2019.
USPS, CBP share shipping data to track opioids.
December 20, 2019.
Steps forward with DHL. December 6, 2019.
Swiss Post delivers more parcels at Christmastime than ever before
December 26, 2019
A sterling effort by staff and by belt conveyors which have run almost continuously: Swiss Post delivered over 18,6 million parcels from 25 November until just before Christmas, which is a new record. All employees were on deck to handle the huge volumes, with staff working numerous extra shifts to ensure that parcels could be placed under the Christmas tree in time. The new regional parcel center in Ticino also contributed to the success.
Swiss Post has set a new record. Between 25 November and 24 December 2019, its staff delivered over 18,6 million parcels – more than ever before during a similar period. Compared to 2018*, the volume of parcels was 8,8 percent higher. The influx of parcels was driven by the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days, which led to new record weekly volumes for Swiss Post as early as November. And the remaining parcel volumes in the run-up to Christmas once again saw an increase – proof that more and more people in Switzerland are shopping online for their Christmas gifts. In the last week before Christmas, staff delivered close to a million parcels on peak days and even cracked the one million mark on 17 December. The belt conveyors at the parcel centers in Daillens (VD), Härkingen (SO), Frauenfeld (TG), Urdorf (ZH) and Cadenazzo (TI) ran almost around the clock.
Tireless efforts by Swiss Post employees made this special achievement possible. For example, parcel centers operated on Saturdays from 30 November until 21 December to sort the huge volumes. And delivery staff delivered parcels to households on the Saturdays after Black Friday and immediately before Christmas – without any extra costs being passed on to customers. Mail carriers have also been very busy over the past few weeks. They delivered an average of 16 million consignments each day that were processed at letter centers. This figure includes 106,000 small goods consignments from abroad. Over two thirds of these came from Asia.
Cadenazzo brings intended relief
The record volumes are pleasing for Swiss Post. But competition remains fierce in the parcel market. Swiss Post wants to hold on to its position as market leader into the future and to differentiate itself from its competitors in terms of quality. This will require big investments in infrastructure, given the large parcel volumes. Swiss Post is on track in this respect. The first regional parcel center in Cadenazzo has been operating since October and has brought much-needed relief for the center in Härkingen. Swiss Post is also continuing to invest in sorting capacity. Next year, it will open three further regional parcel centers in Ostermundigen (BE), Vétroz (VS) and Untervaz (GR), costing more than CHF 190 million francs in total. The new centers are necessary given the sheer influx of parcels. Annual volumes have increased every year since 2013. This will also be the case in 2019, with the 140 million parcel mark likely to be broken, a significant increase on the 138 million parcels that were sent in 2018. Swiss Post will announce the exact numbers for 2019 parcel volumes in mid-January 2020.
*↑ Swiss Post has adjusted its counting method. It now communicates actual parcel volumes, rather than the number of sorting events. The approximately 25 million parcels (= sorting events) from 2018’s holiday volumes correspond to around 17 million actual parcels. Since a parcel is sorted in several parcel centers depending on the transport route, the number of sorting events is higher than the actual parcel volume.
“2 x Christmas” campaign: solidarity with those in need
Supporting those affected by poverty, making others happy, sharing your own prosperity with others: that’s the aim of the “2 x Christmas” solidarity campaign which began on 24 December. For 23 years, the Swiss Red Cross, broadcaster SRG SSR, Swiss Post and retailer Coop (the latter for the last three years) have collected donated goods parcels for people who are affected by poverty. The collection period runs from Christmas Eve until the beginning of January 2020. Parcels containing non-perishable food and hygiene products and toiletries can be handed in free of charge at any Swiss Post branch.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2019
UPS Predicts Record-Breaking National Returns Day
December 26, 2019
UPS expects to process a record 1.9 million returns Jan. 2, 2020, up 26% from the prior year.
This will mark a seventh consecutive record, illustrating how e-commerce continues transforming shopping patterns.
UPS offers convenience and transparency in the returns process, benefitting both consumers and retailers.
UPS (NYSE: UPS) predicts a seventh consecutive record-breaking National Returns Day as consumers send back holiday orders ranging from ill-fitting sweaters to duplicate kitchen gadgets. On Jan. 2, consumers are expected to deposit 1.9 million returns packages into the UPS network – a 26% spike from last year’s peak returns day.
This process is a change from years past, when consumers would rush to physical retailers the day after Christmas and stand in long lines to make returns. UPS has helped rewrite that narrative by offering both retailers and consumers tools to make the returns process flexible, transparent and profitable. Now, consumers make purchases with returns in mind, and, according to the UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study, 73% of online shoppers say the returns experience affects their likelihood to buy from a retailer again.
“For retailers, a seamless returns process is essential to keeping and growing business,” said Kevin Warren, UPS chief marketing officer. “We proudly offer businesses of all sizes – from global players to small and medium-sized merchants – the sophisticated returns services that today’s consumers demand.”
U.S. consumers can take their UPS Returns® packages to:
More than 36,000 UPS drop boxes for smaller packages with labels.
UPS delivery drivers, who can directly receive a return package with a label.
More than 4,800 The UPS Store® locations, which in addition to UPS Access Point® services, can help with full-service packing, shipping and returns needs.
More than 14,000 UPS Access Point® locations, including Michaels, Advance Auto, CVS Pharmacy and The UPS Store® locations, which accept pre-labeled UPS packages.
Source: https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom
Japan Post CEO considers resigning
December 20, 2019
Masatsugu Nagato, the chief executive of the former state-owned postal and financial services group Japan Post Holdings Co. said he is considering resigning in the wake of an investigation that uncovered more than 12,000 cases of suspected improper sales of insurance products at two subsidiaries in the five years through March 2019, reports The Japan Times.
“Regarding management responsibility, I will announce it at an appropriate time,” said Nagato on Wednesday at a news conference in Tokyo. “There is a broad range of stakeholders, and each has a different responsibility, so the management will need to discuss the matter thoroughly.”
A company panel probed 183,000 suspected cases of improper sales at Japan Post Insurance Co. and Japan Post Co. The report found that of those, violations of a law or in-house rules are suspected in 12,836 cases.
It said legal violations were confirmed in 48 cases, while 622 were found to have breached in-house rules.
Some salespeople falsely and unlawfully told customers that their new contract could not be terminated for six months, while others pressured customers to delay terminating their contract, in violation of internal rules, Japan Post Holdings said.
Japan Post Insurance sold the products at over 20,000 post offices nationwide.
The government owns a 57 % stake in Japan Post Holdings, which was privatised in 2007.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118009/news/post
USPS, CBP share shipping data to track opioids
December 20, 2019
A year into an effort to close a critical gap in international drug trafficking through the mail, the U.S. Postal Service is gaining some ground in sharing data on international shipments with Customs and Border Protection, according to a government watchdog study.
Despite that progress, the USPS still needs to step its efforts up to meet the requirements of the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act (STOP Act) signed into law in October 2018, according to a Government Accountability Office report issued Dec. 18.
USPS has lagged in its ability to provide CBP with advanced electronic data (AED) on incoming international shipments as part of an effort to track shipments of opioids including Fentanyl. China has been named by U.S. officials as top originator of international Fentanyl and illicit opioid shipments.
Independent commercial shippers, such as FedEx and DHL, implemented technology years ago that provides CBP with AED to sniff out potentially risky packages in their systems.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VwnfG_8yofYTESUFNbX-Xd-uR1mkrmKz
22nd AIC Report with Audited Accounts.
Steps forward with DHL
December 6, 2019
On November 25, the German National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals signed a renewed protocol covering the relations between UNI, ITF and Deutsche Post DHL for another 2 years. The protocol emphasizes regular dialogue based on a set of key principles.
UNI General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, said:
“We’ve been in dialogue with DHL for several years and welcome the renewal of this historic protocol. The protocol makes clear that DHL will respect the OECD Guidelines and rights of workers to organise, and for UNI this is what it is all about. DHL is one of the world’s largest employers and these commitments are essential for workers in those countries where the laws and practices don’t work to protect these rights.”
The protocol, which was first signed in July 2016, sets out to protect workers’ rights and improve dialogue between the company and unions representing DHL workers worldwide.
For UNI, the dialogue with DHL has opened the door to a better relationship between its affiliates and the company worldwide. Last month, the Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja DHL Supply Chain union in Malaysia, achieved recognition from DHL Supply Chain (M). A memorandum of understanding with the company allows the union to expand its activities and talk to workers in preparation of a first collective agreement. This is the second union recognized for DHL workers in Malaysia.
Head of UNI Post and Logistics, Cornelia Broos, said:
“I’ve been meeting with DHL workers around the world for some time. Most recently we held our first DHL Africa Alliance Meeting in Nairobi where we had the oportunity to bring together 10 unions organising more than 3000 workers in DHL from 10 different African countries. I know that things aren’t always perfect on the ground, and we have some open issues in a few countries, but this protocol means that there is a way to talk things through with the German management and that we have a pipeline for dialogue in both directions. It makes a difference. “
The Protocol is widely recognized as an innovative step by the German NCP to both support dialogue and to promote the Guidelines.
The OECD Protocol 2020 contains a more concrete process for raising issues, and embraces a policy of pro-active engagement in order to avoid problems before they arise.
Source : https://www.uniglobalunion.org/news
POSTAL NEWS
No 103 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
New rate of postal rates can save Pos Malaysia.
December 25, 2019.
Has La Poste fallen on its head? December 23, 2019.
The family that sorts mail together, stays together.
December 21, 2019.
Croatian Post launched a pilot-project with Gideon Brothers. December 20, 2019.
FEDEX on fiscal 2020: “A year of continued significant challenges and changes”. December 20, 2019.
New rate of postal rates can save Pos Malaysia
December 25, 2019
Bernama recently reported on a government decision that has indirectly agreed to raise new tariff rates for Pos Malaysia Bhd.
It was a good decision that Pos Malaysia welcomed after a long time to fight the tariff hike for the company's survival.
The decision is important to ensure Pos Malaysia remains relevant and able to compete in the current digital industry revolution.
A Bernama article quoted the source as saying, however, Pos Malaysia has not yet received official details on the new postal tariff rate and its implementation date.
However, the postal service provider has received a confirmation letter regarding the approval of the tariff hike.
The approval is certainly a relief after a long wait for a new tariff to enable it to remain competitive in serving the people in a challenging economic environment.
A big thank you to the government and the Minister of Communications and Mulltimedia Gobind Singh Deo for listening to Pos Malaysia's voice calling for a change in the postal tariff rate as it has happened overseas.
It is not about Pos Malaysia alone, it is the fate of its thousands of employees who stay under the company when traditional mail-based business is no longer a priority, but demand for it is still high.
The rate hike is seen as a catalyst for the company's restructuring without "sacrificing" its employees' future.
The explosion of digital technology witnessed Utusan Melayu which has been around for centuries, finally had to be closed, as well as publishing companies NSTP had to downsize its operations, which saw more than 500 employees affected.
The good and proper steps the government has taken have raised some question marks. If it is true the new tariff has been approved by the government, but why no further details?
Similarly, the date of its execution is still a question mark. According to the report, Pos Malaysia is expected to make an announcement on the rate change soon, but when?
Pos Malaysia is currently facing a 'serious injury' and is in need of 'immediate' treatment to ensure the company is stable.
For the record, for the financial year ended March 31, 2019, Pos Malaysia Bhd recorded a net loss of RM141.13 million compared to the previous financial year of RM29.03 million net profit.
Accordingly, the parties concerned especially the government immediately approved the implementation of the new tariff rate as soon as possible.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should play a key role in tackling the issue.
It is in line with the establishment of a special committee in March this year by the MCMC aimed at strengthening the postal and courier industry in the country.
This struggle is not only for the survival of Pos Malaysia Bhd, but more than the fortunes of thousands of jobs so that they are not only affected, but also enjoy a more practical wage rate with the country's economic situation.
Source : https://www.malaysiakini.com/news
Has La Poste fallen on its head?
December 23, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019, the press told us through several articles from different newspapers that the postal staff wondered about the advisability of buying the retail network of branches of the bank HSBC!
This announcement is surprising for more than one reason: no information internally, but leaks organized externally.
Surprising also this announcement of alliance between a merchant bank with a sulfurous reputation and the Banque Postale, called citizen bank and whose raison d'être, we are told, is the public good, the guarantee of banking accessibility to all.
Still surprising this announcement of the takeover of 270 bank branches while La Poste continues to close or transform its officesin both rural and urban areas. La Poste would buy a network of branches while inexorable digitalization would lead to almost 50,000 job cuts in the banking sector!
Finally surprising this bulimia of growth while the wedding cake "CNP and Banque Postale" is not yet out of the oven!
And what does Bercy think?
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/
The family that sorts mail together, stays together
December 21, 2019
When Cora Andres started work at Australia Post, 31 years ago, it was at Melbourne GPO — reading envelopes and flicking them into designated slots for every city street and lane.
It was ‘‘very quiet’’, she says, and a world away from her workplace today, where giant conveyor belts speed items across the hangar-like Melbourne Gateway Facility, one of the city's biggest mail centres.
Scanners read barcodes and addresses, and direct each item into containers for the right country, town and suburb. Forklifts shuttle cages full of mail bags and packages across the floor.
‘‘It’s very much easier now, because of the technology,’’ Mrs Andres says.
But it's no less busy: the centre handles more than 250,000 packages and letters every 24 hours.
Happily, humans have not been replaced by robots: Mrs Andres, 77, and her daughter Gladys Lawang, 46, are among more than 400 sorters, customs staff and agricultural inspectors (and 12 sniffer dogs) at this centre alone who ensure (most of) our mail gets delivered, be it to Moscow or Melton.
Mrs Lawang says they need to be alert and have good eyesight, to ensure that each item that speeds past them on the inductor (conveyor belt) is flipped barcode-up so it can be scanned.
They have to manually sort bigger items such as TVs and microwaves. If the machine can’t read an item address, they type it in, and if they can’t decipher it out, it's flicked on to the dead letter office in Port Melbourne.
George Sardelis, a shift production manager at the centre, said this week has been the year’s busiest, with volume up 35 per cent on a normal week.
Australians have until close of business on Monday to send a parcel or card to arrive at 80 per cent of Australian destinations on Christmas Eve. However you must pay for Express Post.
As well as her daughter Gladys, Mrs Andres also works with husband, Fortunato, 82, at the Airport centre, and sons Hylven, 51, and Joel, 49, and Gladys’ husband Edgardo, 51, all work for Australia Post.
Some people would struggle to work with relatives without strangling them, but Mrs Andres, an immigrant from the Philippines, loves it.
She said that previously, ‘‘you had no time to visit [each other] and now we are working together, we’re closer.’’
‘‘I didn’t have much time to see them,’’ confirms her daughter Gladys. ‘‘Now I’m enjoying working with my parents.’’
The Airport facility mostly closes on Christmas Day and Mr and Mrs Andres are hosting their three children and their partners and nine grandchildren for lunch.
They will have traditional Filipino fare such as roast pork on a wood fire spit, noodles and sticky rice cakes.
On Boxing Day it’s back to work for Cora and Gladys, for their afternoon shifts, side by side as always.
Source : https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria
Croatian Post launched a pilot-project with Gideon Brothers
December 20, 2019
Robots in the service of humans
Croatian Post introduced Gideon Brothers’ pallet-carrying autonomous mobile robots to their new sorting center outside of Zagreb. The pilot strongly supports the growth of the company’s core business, as the central pillar of their "Post 2022" strategy. By introducing robots into their operations, Croatian Post is following Industry 4.0 trends by connecting digital and internet-based systems to establish communication between machines, people, and product and business systems.
Robotic systems reduce the costs of providing services, shorten the service cycle, and increase efficiency. Robots do not replace humans; they are their tools and help achieve goals that would have been impossible to imagine earlier. This principle is what guides the Croatian robotics and AI company Gideon Brothers. Along with a great business solution, this principle was also what guided Croatian Post’s decision to launch a pilot project using autonomous pallet-carrier robots in their new sorting center.
The pilot project will be implemented over the next four months in the high-rack warehouse and the sorting facility. Employees who will work with the robots will be trained during this period. In Croatian Post’s warehouse, the robots will assist with the picking and transport of mail, and in the sorting facility, will transport mail from vehicles to processing locations that prepare mail and packages for delivery.
The self-driving logistics robots can carry loads of up 800 kilograms, and they can safely maneuver around people, equipment and other moving machines. Its autonomy technology is based on visual perception that combines deep learning (AI) with stereoscopic cameras to create a new generation of robotic vision.
The Croatian Post sees this project as a sign that it’s open to new opportunities brought by technology that can provide a competitive advantage.
Source: https://www.posteurop.org/
FEDEX on fiscal 2020: “A year of continued significant challenges and changes”
December 20, 2019
FedEx has announced its Q2 results – reporting a 40% drop in fiscal second-quarter profits. Domestic Express parcel volumes fell 4.1% compared to last year, while Ground shipments rose 3.5%. Operating profit margins in FedEx’s Ground business decreased to 6.7%, down from 12.4% in the first quarter.
“Fiscal 2020 is a year of continued significant challenges and changes for FedEx, particularly in the quarter just ended due to the compressed shipping season,” said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman and chief executive officer. “We have significantly enhanced our e-commerce capabilities with strategic initiatives including year-round seven-day FedEx Ground delivery, enhanced large package capabilities and the insourcing of FedEx SmartPost packages. These changes have been well-received by the marketplace as reflected in our record volumes this peak season. While we have experienced some higher-than-expected expenses this quarter, we forecast FedEx Ground operating margins to rebound to the teens in our fiscal fourth quarter as the bow wave of costs for these changes is absorbed.”
“Thanks to over 490,000 FedEx team members for their hard work and dedication to our Purple Promise of making every FedEx experience outstanding.”
Operating results declined due to weak global economic conditions, increased FedEx Ground costs from expanded service offerings, the loss of business from a large customer, a continuing mix shift to lower-yielding services and a more competitive pricing environment. In addition, the later timing of the Thanksgiving holiday resulted in the shifting of Cyber Week into December, which negatively impacted the quarter’s results. These factors were partially offset by lower variable incentive compensation expenses and increased yields at FedEx Freight. Net income includes a tax benefit of $133 million ($0.51 per diluted share) from the recognition of certain foreign tax loss carryforwards.
FedEx Express recorded asset impairment charges of $66 million ($50 million, net of tax, or $0.19 per diluted share) related to the permanent retirement of 10 Airbus A310-300 aircraft and 12 related engines. During the remainder of fiscal 2020, FedEx Express will make further network capacity changes by reducing flight hours. The company continues to evaluate if additional aircraft retirements are warranted.
“Our strategies are clear: To develop the premier e-commerce portfolio in the U.S., improve international profitability, enhance our market-leading revenue quality and continue to optimize our U.S. and international networks,” said Rajesh Subramaniam, FedEx Corp. president and chief operating officer. “We are also taking immediate actions to address the short-term challenges facing our business, including eliminating multiple international flights to reflect reduced global air freight demand. These actions combined with benefits from the TNT integration should allow FedEx Express to enter fiscal 2021 with profit improvement underway.”
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118013/news/e-commerce
POSTAL NEWS
No 01 -2020
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Management changes at Japan Post over improper sales of insurance policies. January 2, 2020.
Smog forces Australia Post to suspend services across Canberra and ACT. January 2, 2020.
Saudia Group launches logistics services for Saudi airports. January 2, 2020.
Three 2020 Resolutions for Washington on the Drug Epidemic. December 27, 2019.
Special End-of-Career Allowance and Part-Time Furnished for Seniors, FO Com obtains their renewal until March 2021! December 24, 2019.
Management changes at Japan Post over improper sales of insurance policies
January 2, 2020
Hiroya Masuda, a former minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, will replace current Japan Post CEO Masatsugu Nagato on 6 January.
Three executives have stepped down from the company in the wake of an investigation that uncovered more than 12,000 cases of suspected improper sales of insurance products at two subsidiaries in the five years through March 2019.
Japan Post Insurance Co Ltd President Mitsuhiko Uehira will be replaced by Tetsuya Senda, deputy president of the company, while Japan Post President Kunio Yokoyama will be taken over by Kazuhide Kinugawa, senior managing executive officer of Japan Post Holdings.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118038/news/post
Smog forces Australia Post to suspend services across Canberra and ACT
January 2 , 2020
Australia Post has indefinitely suspended its services in Canberra and across the ACT as the city's air quality remains more than 10 times above the level considered hazardous.
Local health authorities said levels peaked at more than 20 times hazardous levels on Wednesday, with smoke expected to linger in the coming days.
As high temperatures trap smog in the air, Australia Post took the decision to cancel deliveries from Thursday.
"The safety of our people is our top priority, and with hazardous smoke conditions continuing across ACT we are suspending all postie and van deliveries until further notice," a statement read.
"We encourage customers with inquiries about their mail to check the Tracker Tool or contact us on 13 POST.
"We apologise for any inconvenience, however, we must do what is right for our people. We thank customers for their patience and understanding."
Air quality
Hazardous levels are normally considered to be at an air quality index of 200 or above.
Air quality stations around Canberra recording levels between 2300 to 2800.
Deliveries in a number of areas across Victoria, NSW and Western Australia have also been affected by bushfires, while 10 post offices have been closed.
"Safety is our main priority, and we are reaching out to our people and supporting them through this tough time," Australia Post said.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, and will provide updates as information is made available."
ACT waits for relief
Canberra's air quality is the worst out of any major city in the world due to smoke from bushfires along the NSW South Coast.
A global air quality index ranked Canberra's air worse than New Delhi in India or Lahore in Pakistan.
There are out of control fires burning near Kosciuszko National Park to Canberra's west, and the fires along the coast to the east.
Bureau forecaster Abrar Shabren said this meant whatever the wind change, smoke would still be blown across the territory.
"It will persist over the next couple of days. We will see a change probably tomorrow," he said.
ACT Health has urged Canberrans to stay indoors and avoid physical activity outdoors.
Source : https://7news.com.au/business/australia-post
Saudia Group launches logistics services for Saudi airports
January 2, 2020
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia Group) has launched the Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) company, a new division that will provide logistics and ground handling services at Saudi airports.
Omar Talal Hariri, SAL chief executive, commented: “SAL will improve the quality of logistics operations and support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision towards transforming the country into a global logistics hub [capable of] handling all types of cargo and shipping operations.”
Sami Sindi, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, added: “SAL will contribute directly towards enhancing and developing the logistics infrastructure, including all types of cargo platforms, warehouses and equipment, as well as e-commerce cargo and shipping facilities.”
Sindi also explained that SAL will “create more economic and development opportunities through forging strategic partnerships with different local and global logistics service providers”.
The launch of SAL was announced at a ceremony in Riyadh, which was attended by Saudi Arabia’s governor of customs authority, Ahmad Al-Haqbani; Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation; Anef Abanomi, president of Saudi Post; Sami Sindi, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines; the directors of government agencies working at Saudi airports; chief executives of the companies and strategic units within the Saudia Group; and cargo and aviation transport experts.
Source : https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines
Three 2020 Resolutions for Washington on the Drug Epidemic
December 27, 2019
The opioid crisis continues to tear at the fabric of American society 14 months after widely supported bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Trump. Some progress has been made, though much more is needed. And without near-term action from Washington, the situation could get worse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug abuse deaths have declined 4.7 percent from 2017 to May 2019, yet the numbers remain staggering. For the 12-month period that ended May 2019, CDC reported 67,071 deaths compared with 70,237 deaths in 2017. Opioids are involved in two-thirds of drug abuse deaths, taking more lives than car crashes or shootings.
Many solutions are required including reducing needless opioid prescriptions and strengthening treatment programs. There is also a vital international law enforcement component. The U.S. Department of Justice reports, “China is the principal source country of fentanyl-like substances and other synthetic opioids, producing most illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances that reach U.S. users.”
To tackle this, Washington should promptly do the following.
—Enact Legislation Banning Fentanyl Analogues by February 6. There is a loophole in federal law by which drug traffickers can make minor structural modifications to fentanyl and potentially face lower penalties than if they imported, distributed or manufactured the base drug. In 2018, the Department of Justice addressed this, implementing an emergency order that treats trafficking in copycat products the same as trafficking in fentanyl. The order, issued under the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, expires on February 6, 2020.
The best way to address this issue is for Congress to enact legislation by February 6 that removes any doubt that Justice can permanently make such classifications. The Justice Department warned the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 4, 2019, that without legislation, “the Department would enter unchartered legal and regulatory terrain. It is unknown whether a newly encountered fentanyl-like substance, having just been allowed to lapse from the class scheduling regime, could later be quickly subject to temporary control.”
At a July 1, 2019, news conference, Amanda Liskamm, the department’s director of Opioid Enforcement and Prevention, was more direct, saying, “Prosecutors will undoubtedly be hindered, and drug traffickers will undoubtedly be helped.”
—Full Court Press to Immediately Inspect China’s Mail. A central provision of the 2018 drug legislation is a requirement that all incoming mail and packages from China, effective January 1, 2019, have advanced electronic data (AED). This information, which includes the sender and recipient’s address and the declared contents, enables suspicious mail to be identified and seized more quickly. However, 15 percent of mail and packages from China still do not have AED.
As part of continuing trade and other discussions, the Trump administration should press China to make sure that its postal service, China Post, has AED on all out-bound U.S. mail and packages. This is the most direct and clear way to ensure compliance.
—Push for More Stringent International Mail Standards. International mail standards are set by the Universal Postal Union, which is affiliated with the United Nations. This past September the Department of State and Peter Navarro, the president’s director of trade and manufacturing policy, secured a major victory at the UPU based on an eminently fair request: that foreign shippers will pay the same as U.S. ones for the services of the U.S. Postal Service.
Building off this, the United States should push for stringent AED and customs standards at the UPU when the organization holds its annual four-year conference this August. AED technology is readily available to ensure better postal inspections. And, with drug traffickers likely to improvise and use additional shipping points than China, such an international agreement is timely.
The fight against opioids and drug abuse deaths requires many actions and vigilance. At this time of year especially, it is important to renew resolve on this important fight.
Source : https://www.insidesources.com/
Special End-of-Career Allowance and Part-Time Furnished for Seniors, FO Com obtains their renewal until March 2021!
December 24, 2019
The Special End-of-Career Allowance (CBSA) system is primarily intended for civil servants benefiting from active service and civil servants who are parents of three children or of a disabled child.
Regarding the Part-time Furnished Seniors (TPAS), if the Post Office workers were guaranteed to be able to benefit from it until December 2020, the uncertainty remained for the rest…
The obstinacy of FO Com activists ended up paying, they are already working for after March 2021 and remain available to help you with your efforts.
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/POSTAL NEWS
No 02 -2020
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
Amazon delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally in 2019. January 2, 2020.
Takeback Thursday: Returns expected to increase by 72 per cent on first working day of the year. January 2. 2020.
Omniva delivered one and half million parcels to clients during the Christmas month. December 31, 2019.
The robots are taking over (Croatia).December 27, 2019.
Tentative Agreements reached for National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) units. December 23, 2019.
Amazon delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally in 2019
January 2, 2020
Amazon has announced that the number of items delivered with Prime Free One-Day and Prime Free Same-Day Delivery nearly quadrupled during the 2019 holiday season.
“This holiday season has been better than ever thanks to our customers and employees all around the world,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO.
Amazon’s worldwide and U.S.-only seasonal and year-end highlights are as follows:
More people tried Prime this holiday season than any previous year – in fact, in one week alone, more than 5 million new customers started Prime free trials or began paid memberships worldwide.
In 2019, Amazon’s dedicated last-mile delivery network delivered over 3.5 billion customer packages globally.
This holiday season, the number of items that were delivered with Prime Free One-Day and Prime Free Same-Day Delivery nearly quadrupled compared to the same time period last holiday season, making this Amazon’s fastest holiday yet.
Over 100 million items sold by independent third-party sellers – mostly small and medium-sized businesses – were shipped with Prime Free One-Day Delivery over the holidays in the U.S.
Millions more items were ordered to an Amazon Hub location during the holiday season than ever before.
60 % more customers shipped their holiday order to an Amazon pickup point this season compared to last year.
The top ten cities that used an Amazon Locker or Amazon Counter location this holiday were Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Berkeley (CA), Austin and Columbus.
The last delivery with Amazon’s ultra-fast delivery arrived on Christmas Eve at 11:59pm PT in Seattle, WA.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/118041/news/e-commerce
Takeback Thursday: Returns expected to increase by 72 per cent on first working day of the year
January 2. 2020
On Thursday 2 January 2020 – Takeback Thursday – returns of online purchases are predicted to increase by 72 per cent compared to the average number of return parcels per day in December, according to Royal Mail. Takeback Thursday is the day that most Brits will return their unwanted and ill-fitting Christmas presents. With global reach and the leading enabler of ecommerce in the UK, Royal Mail is well placed to observe trends across the industry.
According to a study commissioned by Royal Mail, the average online shopper in the UK sends back an online purchase every month*. Three in five online shoppers would be unlikely to use a retailer again if they have a difficult returns experience. For that reason, it is very important to get the returns experience right first time.
Speed of refund is the most important element of the returns process for online shoppers (76 per cent). Clearly signposted returns information on the retailer’s website is also key (73 per cent) and shoppers want clear guidance about which returns labels to use (72 per cent).
Try before you buy
Almost six in ten (58 per cent) shoppers are more likely to use a retailer if they offer a 'try before you buy' service so it’s an important avenue to explore when adapting to customer needs. Over a third (35 per cent) of shoppers would purchase more items if a 'try before you buy' option was available from a retailer. Those aged 18-34 (47 per cent) are more likely to purchase more items if a service like this is available than those aged over 55 years old (just 22 per cent). One in two people that have not used such a service are open to trying it at some point.
Shoppers wary of items not looking and fitting how they appear online are naturally attracted to this service. Clothing (60 per cent) and footwear (42 per cent) are the categories people are most likely to use this service for, followed by electrical computing goods (37 per cent). Usage of ‘try before you buy’ has increased significantly for clothing since last year (52 per cent in 2018).
A spokesperson from Royal Mail said “With the festive season now over, January is the busiest time of the year for returns. Having a clear, user-friendly returns policy has never been more important. It is a vital part of the online shopping experience. For retailers, ensuring their returns experience is in line with consumers’ expectations is key. Over a third of shoppers would purchase more items if a 'try before you buy' option was available from a retailer, so it’s important to consider putting such a service at the heart of your returns offering.”
Source : https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases/royal-mail
Omniva delivered one and half million parcels to clients during the Christmas month
December 31, 2019
The most popular day for receiving parcels turned out to be 18 December, when nearly 90,000 people received a shipment.
Omniva operations manager Kristi Unt said that this year’s peak parcel-sending season went smoothly. “We had a record volume of parcels, but timely planning and thorough preparation ensured a peaceful Christmas this year as well,” said Unt, according to whom all parcels that were shipped correctly and on time reached their destination before the holidays. The most parcels were delivered to clients the week before Christmas, and using parcel machines that were filled and emptied several times a day.
In total, Omniva delivered more than 1.5 million parcels to clients in December. “If each parcel had had a different recipient then we would have delivered a parcel to at least each resident of Estonia in December,” said Unt. “In reality, the majority of shipments went to larger cities, but a significant portion of parcels was also shipped to rural areas.”
According to Unt, this year’s Christmas season was successful firstly thanks to all the clients who shipped their parcels on time and later picked them up quickly, but secondly also thanks to the committed employees who kept delivering the parcels even during the weekend before Christmas.
The company’s new logistics centre and the expanded parcelmachine network played an important role in tackling the record volumes as well.
Although the record parcel volumes are in December, according to Unt, the above average volumes also continue in January. For example, after the Christmas shopping and gift season an active period on the aftermarket starts as well as an increase in person-to-person shipping. “For instance, if a person gets a new winter jacket as a gift then often the old one is sent away to a new owner, be it a friend or someone found from a shopping portal. This trend is very welcome,” said Unt.
According to Omniva the parcel volumes grow nearly 20% each year. Trends show that a similar growth tempo will continue in the coming years.
Source : https://www.omniva.ee/
The robots are taking over (Croatia)
December 27, 2019
Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post) is trialling robots at its new logistics centre in Zagreb.
The pallet-carrying robots are being piloted in the high-rack warehouse and sorting facility. They will assist by picking and transporting mail, as well as transporting mail from vehicles to processing locations.
The robots are essentially autonomous vehicles, including features such as stereoscopic vision and AI learning.
Employees who work with the robots will receive specialised training.
Source : http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
Tentative Agreements reached for National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) units.
December 23, 2019
The American Postal Workers Union and U.S. Postal Service have come to tentative terms on Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) for the National Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) contract and the Information Technology/Accounting Services (IT/AS) contracts, announced Support Services Director Steve Brooks.
Professional Postal Nurses Win Tentative Agreement on New Contract
After years of struggle to get a successor collective bargaining agreement, Professional Postal Nurses (NPPN) reached an agreement subject to member ratification. The agreement provides retroactive salary increases of 2.4 percent for 2017, 2.9 percent for 2018, and 3.0 percent for 2019.
If ratified the agreement will run through 2023, with annual salary increases based on the increase in the Employment Cost Index (ECI). Unlike other postal collective bargaining agreement, nurses have traditionally received increases based on the ECI rather than the combination of COLA and general increases. The APWU and USPS will jointly review the current grievance process to determine whether any changes might reduce the complexities involved with one local union representing members in every State.
Separate from the tentative CBA, the NPPN and Postal Service agreed to a memorandum allowing for the hiring of 32 additional Occupational Health Nurses across the country.
IT/AS Tentatively Agrees Contract Extension
Subject to member ratification, the tentative IT/AS agreement will extend for eighteen months the Collective Bargaining Agreement that expired January 20, 2019. Negotiations have been ongoing since October 2018.
“This relatively short-term extension provides some benefits including work rule improvements now, with a quick return to negotiations early in 2020 for a longer-
term agreement when the Postal Service can give its full attention to IT/AS. We see this in everyone’s interest,” stated Director Brooks.
The extension agreement will expire on July 17, 2020.
Employees will receive retroactive general increases and two retroactive COLA increases.
The agreement also provides for a general increase effective January 18, 2020 and a COLA based on the March 2020 CPI.
The extension also upgrades the:
Accounting Specialist Senior from level 17 to level 18,
Property Control Specialist level 14 to level 16,
Procurement & Supply Assistant from level 13 to level 15,
Group Leader Administrative Clerk from level 10 to level 11, and
Administrative Clerk from level 9 to level 10.
There are also working condition changes: creating a career development program, enhancements to the 10/4 work schedules, grievance process improvements, and safety and health procedures improvements.
“All in all, I believe this to be a solid extension agreement and foundation upon which to build in continuing negotiations for a full agreement in the future,” stated Director Brooks.
The tentative agreements and ballots will be sent to members for ratification.
Source : https://apwu.org/news