POSTAL NEWS
No 25-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. Client Alert: Congress orders imposition of shipping restrictions on vaporizer devices, components, and accessories. April 2, 2021.
2. Post Office members back pay deal – set for big April payout. April 1, 2021.
3. Poczta Polska extends agreement with Cainiao network. April 1, 2021.
4. PostNL prepares for customs changes with international label reader. March 31, 2021.
5. Purolator hits the road as first national courier to deploy fully electric delivery vehicles. March 29, 2021.
1. Client Alert: Congress orders imposition of shipping restrictions on vaporizer devices, components, and accessories
April 2, 2021
Effective March 27, 2021, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (E-Cig Act) expands on existing legislation governing the shipment of cigarettes to impose restrictions on the shipment of “Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems” (ENDS). Despite the E-Cig Act’s named purpose of preventing nicotine sales to children, however, it is not narrowly tailored to address either children or nicotine. Rather, under the E-Cig Act, ENDS are broadly defined as “any electronic device that, through an aerosolized solution, delivers nicotine, flavor, or any other substance to the user inhaling from the device.” The Act specifies that this includes:
• E-cigarettes;
• E-hookahs;
• E-cigars;
• Vape pens;
• Advanced refillable personal vaporizers;
• Electronic pipes; and
• Any component, liquid, part, or accessory of a device described [listed above], without regard to whether the component, liquid, part, or accessory is sold separately from the device.
Based on the E-Cig Act’s broad definition of ENDS, its requirements for compliance (discussed below), and its expected carveouts, it appears that the E-Cig Act’s primary effect will be on smaller businesses that lack their own distribution capabilities and rely on mail or courier services to distribute their products.
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This may drive industry consolidation under traditional, larger tobacco companies that can afford to self-distribute, and that are well-accustomed to operating in a highly regulated environment.
The E-Cig Act requires each seller of ENDS (including the components listed above) that transports such products by mail or courier service to register with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms as well as the tobacco tax administrator of the state into which the product is to be shipped. Sellers must report shipments to each recipient state’s tobacco tax administrator each month and pay all applicable taxes prior to delivery and must limit shipment of ENDS to 10 pounds, while recipients must provide proof of identification upon delivery. The E-Cig Act further imposes a duty on each shipping company to ensure that it does not ship ENDS from non-compliant sellers. Sellers that violate these regulations shall be fined the greater amount of $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for other violations OR 2% of the gross sales of ENDS devices during the one-year period ending on the date of the violation.
By April 26, 2021, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is to provide regulations clarifying the limitations on mailing of ENDS, and that such limitations shall take effect upon the release of these regulations. Existing USPS regulations prohibiting shipment of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products specifically exempt shipments between verified and authorized tobacco industry businesses for business purposes, or between such businesses and federal or state agencies for regulatory purposes. Therefore, it is likely these exemptions will also extend to ENDS. However, traditional courier services such as FedEx, UPS and DHL have already announced policies prohibiting ENDS shipments completely. These policies have left businesses in the burgeoning vape pen industry, including those that sell devices, batteries, cartridges and fill material, struggling to find logistics solutions. We will continue to monitor this situation and be prepared to address questions about the USPS rules promulgation when it is released.
Source : https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews
2. Post Office members back pay deal – set for big April payout
April 1, 2021
Hard-working Post Office members will see significant increases to pay this month, following their approval of a deal combining an across-the-board rise with variable bonus consolidations and lifting guaranteed wages by between 4.7 and 7.1 per cent.
In a big show of support for the union, members voted by a 97 per cent majority to endorse the package, which will now be paid into their end-of-April salaries.
And, this being their ‘2020’ pay deal, payments are also fully backdated to April 1st 2020.
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Reacting to the ballot return, CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey says that he was “extremely pleased by the positive response from members and I thank them for their exceptional work over this past year and for their remarkable patience while we’ve been getting this deal done.
“It’s an innovative pay agreement reached after lengthy negotiations with Post Office senior management that brought several different bonus schemes into pensionable pay and transformed a modest settlement into a much better overall package.”
Another key aspect to this deal is the improvement to members’ defined contribution pension scheme, in particular the introduction of a higher ‘maximum tier’ of 8 per cent employee and 12 per cent employer.
“We want to encourage all members to take advantage of this new opportunity to have 20 per cent of pay put into their pension pot,” continues Andy, who advises members to send their requests to the company’s specific pensions email address using their own Post Office email accounts.
Now that ‘2020’ is settled, Andy and his senior negotiating team are immediately turning their attention to the 2021 claim.
“We are now putting this claim together and intend to submit our proposals for approval to the CWU postal executive – and then we’ll formally submit the claim to the employer,” he explains.
“We will be looking to conclude the 2021 pay agreement much more quickly than 2020. Hopefully, the Post Office will share this aspiration and will engage in negotiations in a meaningful way from the outset.”
Source : https://www.cwu.org/news
3. Poczta Polska extends agreement with Cainiao network
April 1, 2021
Poczta Polska (Polish Post) has signed an agreement with Cainiao Network to speed up delivery of orders placed on AliExpress destined for Poland.
Polish customers ordering goods from China will receive their parcels within 15 days of placing an order on AliExpress. Poczta Polska will ensure parcels reach the customer's door within two days of arrival in Poland. Delivery will be made via the Pocztex courier service.
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AliExpress customers in Poland have been receiving their purchases via Poczta Polska for several years.
“Our goal by 2024 is to double the Company's revenues from courier services.” - Tomasz Zdzikot, President of the Poczta Polska Management Board.
Customer Experience
As keen watchers of the Last Mile Prophets will know, customers expect a higher level of customer experience from e-commerce than currently offered when shopping cross-border from China.
The key questions for Polish online shoppers will be:
1. Price
2. Speed
3. Delivery experience
Waiting a fortnight for an e-commerce purchase means that speed is hardly a consideration, but price and delivery experience are important to the overall e-commerce experience. Shoppers will not return to AliExpress if they are dissatisfied with the delivery experience.
Environment and Emissions
The other consideration which might not be as strong in Poland as in other markets is environmental. According to Poczta Polska, both companies have also taken steps to reduce CO2 emissions with the aim of consolidating multiple shipments addressed to a single customer.
Efforts to consolidate deliveries to residential addresses are to be applauded. But what else is being done to reduce emissions? Will customers eventually wake up to the carbon emissions generated by low value cross-border e-commerce?
InPost delivering for AliExpress
Something else to consider: AliExpress has been using InPost for deliveries since 2019. For purchases over $5, shoppers can choose an InPost parcel locker at checkout.
So does this mean Poczta Polska will be left with the really low value items?
Source : http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
4. PostNL prepares for customs changes with international label reader
March 31, 2021
To deal with the challenges brought about by changes in import processes, such as missing or incomplete address data, PostNL Cross Border Solutions (CBS) has implemented Prime Vision’s International Label Reader (ILR) for shipments with missing data.
This solution provides semi-automated data entry of all necessary customs data for mail items that have not been digitally pre-registered.
The ILR solution contributes to the digital transformation of import mail processing with which PostNL is ready for EU’s new advance cargo information system ICS2, which came into force on March 15, 2021. In addition, as of July 1 this year, the VAT exemption rate will no longer apply and all mail items from outside the EU must be declared.
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Electronic processing will play a major role in this; processes will be increasingly data-driven and based on the available digital data of shipments.
Before July 1, PostNL CBS will expand the ILR capacity so that its shipments can continue to be processed on time.
Marjo de Keizer, program manager, CBS, commented, “We expect that the ILR will help us enormously to continue to process shipments on time by completing the data set needed for customs clearance.”
Source: https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/cross-border
5. Purolator hits the road as first national courier to deploy fully electric delivery vehicles
March 29, 2021
Company expands its fleet of zero-emission vehicles to more locations throughout Canada with the addition of all-electric delivery trucks and electric–cargo bikes in Vancouver
TORONTO, Today Purolator announced it is taking another significant step in greening its fleet with the arrival of fully electric curbside-delivery trucks in Vancouver — the first to be launched nationally by a Canadian courier company.
The new 18-foot electric delivery trucks and electric–cargo bikes (e-bikes) expand Purolator’s fleet of innovative eco-friendly vehicles already in use on the streets of Montreal and Toronto.
Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Purolator has seen residential deliveries grow by approximately 50 per cent, increasing the demand for transportation
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and courier services. In addition to reducing truck traffic and noise pollution, the new all-electric vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 24 metric tons per year (per vehicle).
“At Purolator, we’re committed to adapting intelligently and providing sustainable solutions for the unique challenges of urban growth, the rise of e-commerce and unprecedented volumes of home deliveries,” says John Ferguson, President and CEO, Purolator. “Transforming our infrastructure and fleet is a key focus area of our growth and innovation strategy, and the cornerstone of our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint.”
Purolator’s new electric delivery vehicles are built on Ford’s F-59 platform and electrified by Motiv Power Systems. Motiv’s Electric Power Intelligent Chassis® (EPIC) is a market-leading platform for delivery vans. Purolator’s deployment of this technology marks Motiv’s first collaboration with a company in Canada.
“The introduction of all-electric vehicles into Purolator’s fleet is a critical step in reducing their GHG emissions and helps to advance our mission of freeing fleets from fossil fuels," said Matt O’Leary, Chairman and CEO, Motiv. "We applaud the organization’s commitment to implementing innovative and sustainable technologies and look forward to working alongside them to modernize their fleet and delivery solutions throughout Canada.”
In Purolator’s recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report, the company underscored its commitment to work toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Purolator will continue to introduce new types of advanced-technology vehicles to its existing fleet of 315 hybrid-electric vehicles to improve delivery performance and safety and to reduce the organization’s overall GHG emissions. These new green vehicles include e-bikes, low-speed electric vehicles and 18-foot all-electric delivery trucks.
Source : https://www.purolator.com/en/articlesPOSTAL NEWS
No 26-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. Partial activity agreement: renewal of the Covid-19 compensation for postal workers away from the service. April 2, 2021.
2. bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis agree new commercial partnership. April 1, 2021.
3. FedEx and European workforce clash over plan to axe thousands of jobs. March 31, 2021.
4. Swiss Post is withdrawing from the security logistics market and disposing of its cash transportation operations.
March 30, 2021.
5. Royal Mail offers Parcel Collect free of charge until 30 May. March 29, 2021.
1. Partial activity agreement: renewal of the Covid-19 compensation for postal workers away from the service
April 2, 2021
On April 2, 2021, La Poste brought together the unions to present the modalities for the renewal of the partial activity agreement.
The President of the Republic announced on March 31, 2021, a closure of nurseries, schools, colleges, high schools for 3 weeks with an adjustment of the school vacation calendar. These decisions will force some parents to telework, take time off or find childcare.
Post proposes renewal for a month, from 1 st to April 30, 2021, the agreement was valid until 31 March 2021, with more readable shades on the conditions of access to childcare. To date, there is no regulatory text issued by the Government on child custody. Given the current situation, the number of postal workers who will benefit from the compensation should increase and represent around 15,000 people (reference March 2020).
FO Com again called for the compensation measures to be extended to people sharing the home of a vulnerable person as well as to carers and to all people with disabilities.
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/
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2. bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis agree new commercial partnership
April 1, 2021
Following the announcement of a new partnership model on 23 December 2020, bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis today signed an agreement whereby BNP Paribas Fortis would acquire bpost’s 50% holding in bpost bank at the end of this year to become its sole shareholder.
A seven-year partnership has been agreed between the parties, in which bpost will continue to provide the range of financial services across its post office network.
The whole transaction should be finalized by the end of 2021.
The commercial partnership between bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis runs from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2028.
Nothing will change for bpost bank customers: they can continue to expect the same outstanding service in the familiar and trusted post office setting.
Both BNP Paribas Fortis and bpost fulfil an important role in Belgian society, with a focus on building close and personal long-term relationships with customers.
The successful partnership for the provision of financial services was launched as long ago as 1995 in a joint venture that originally went by the name “Bank van de Post/Banque de la Poste”. Now known as bpost bank, it has since become an established name in the Belgian banking landscape. The current partnership is set to end on 31 December 2021.
Today bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis announce their agreement to transform their current (50/50) partnership in bpost bank. In the future partnership between bpost and BNP Paribas Fortis, bpost will continue to offer the financal products across its post office network and BNP Paribas Fortis will acquire bpost’s share in bpost bank, becoming its sole shareholder. The aim is to finalize the whole transaction by the end of 2021, subject to the requisite regulatory approvals.
This new agreement perpetuates the long-term commercial relationship between BNP Paribas Fortis and bpost, whereby bpost will act as agent of bpost bank and BNP Paribas Fortis. This is fully in line with the proximity strategy of the two partners. As a public service provider, bpost will continue to offer financial services through its network of post offices, close to the customer.
It means that nothing will change for bpost bank customers: they can continue to expect the same outstanding service in the familiar and trusted post office setting. The transaction will have no impact on the conditions of employment of bpost bank and bpost employees.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/136478/news/e-commerce
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3. FedEx and European workforce clash over plan to axe thousands of jobs
March 31, 2021
FedEx and TNT workers, thousands of whom across Europe face redundancy, say the merged express company failed to communicate plans and timelines for job cuts, creating a “stressful” situation.
But FedEx told The Loadstar the job cuts could take 18 months to implement, and that the company was “committed to an open dialogue” during the period.
FedEx aims to cut between 5,500 and 6,300 jobs in Europe as it integrates TNT, but workers say demand is at record levels. And they have also questioned FedEx’s recent pledge to invest $2bn to reach zero-net emissions and $100m into climate research at the US’s Yale University.
“We have to ask why FedEx is continuing to slash the workforce, driving its ability to pay for these initiatives,” said Livia Spera, European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) general secretary.
The ETF also claims FedEx has failed to engage with its workforce and consult on the job cuts.
“Conversations with the company are underway in several countries, and workers are reporting that, despite their active participation, it has been extremely challenging to get clear information from the company,” the union told The Loadstar.
“The company representatives often join meetings with workers’ representatives without full details of the company’s plans, timelines and clear next steps. Their behaviour is making an already incredibly stressful situation even more stressful for workers and their families.
“There is also a European Works Council in FedEx. The company continues to side-step [its] responsibility in this respect, as it has not carried out a proper consultation at the European level.
“It should have done this well before any of the national conversations started. This can only be seen as another example of the company position to withhold information from workers and their representatives.”
FedEx, however, claims it has abided by all regulations.
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“After our initial engagement with the European Works Councils about our intentions, we openly communicated these proposals to our entire workforce and started the consultation process with our local social partners,” said a spokesperson.
“In line with the agreements with our European Works Councils, the European process and local consultation processes always run in parallel, as they do in this instance; fully complying with all applicable laws and regulations.”
FedEx, which noted the job cuts across operational teams and back-office functions were “regrettable”, said it would discuss with its workforce the full range of measures available across Europe.
“These differ by country and may include voluntary redundancy, reassignment to other roles and priority access to open positions.”
But, it added: “Exact figures will only be known at the conclusion of the consultation processes in each country, which could take up to 18 months.”
More than 6,000 people have signed a petition, calling for a stop to the job cuts. One TNT worker in Italy said the day comprised “rapid-fire calls and emails, constant overtime requests, work on Saturdays. It seems crazy that these redundancies are announced now”.
One FedEx worker noted: “It is appalling and disgraceful how FedEx has treated us at a time when unemployment is so high. In the last year, their stocks have risen along with massive profits.”
“They’re pushing both old and young colleagues out in times of a global pandemic, of which FedEx Group is one of the winners in terms of business”, added a TNT worker in Germany.
The ETF asked: “With FedEx continuing to only disclose partial information and clearly impede the process, how can any meaningful and good faith negotiations take place with workers representatives surrounding a potential reduction in the size of the workforce until the company owns up to its responsibilities to these workers?”
The FedEx spokesperson responded: “Clearly, changes like this are never easy because they impact our people. We have been, and continue to be, committed to an open dialogue, working closely in a transparent, collaborative way with our social partners and in full compliance with local consultation processes and requirements to ensure we reach the right outcome for affected team members and for the sustainable future of our business.
“We are fully committed to taking care of our people responsibly and with the utmost respect.”
Source : https://theloadstar.com/
4. Swiss Post is withdrawing from the security logistics market and disposing of its cash transportation operations
March 30, 2021
Swiss Post has decided to sell the business operations of its subsidiary SecurePost Ltd to the international company Loomis Schweiz AG as of 1 May 2021. Loomis will continue to employee SecurePost Ltd’s 450 staff. The parties have agreed that the price of the transaction will remain confidential.
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SecurePost Ltd has transported valuable goods and cash for Swiss Post, its subsidiaries, as well as for other customers, since 2003. SecurePost, which is wholly owned by Swiss Post, operates in an extremely challenging and increasingly high-risk environment. Most of its customers come from cash-oriented sectors and include banks, retailers, jewellers and Swiss Post itself. SecurePost has no universal service obligation. The company helped Swiss Post and PostFinance to meet their legal universal service obligation. SecurePost is a specialized unit within the Group and ensures the supply of cash for Swiss Post branches and PostFinance in particular.
SecurePost Ltd has been under financial pressure for several years and underwent a reorganization. It has successfully stabilized its financial position over recent years by consistently implementing efficiency measures.
During this period, SecurePost fell victim to several brutal attacks. This series of attacks on various cash transportation vehicles resulted in new regulatory and actuarial requirements, particularly in Western Switzerland. The situation is now being exacerbated by the negative effects of the coronavirus crisis on the circulation of cash.
Various options assessed to secure jobs
Swiss Post believes SecurePost Ltd’s business model in its current form is vulnerable and has examined various options to provide a long-term solution to the supply of cash for the Group. This analysis also focused on SecurePost Ltd’s 450 employees.
After careful reflection, Swiss Post decided to procure the cash transportation services required from a company operating in Switzerland and internationally. SecurePost Ltd’s business operations will be transferred to this company. In Loomis Schweiz AG, Swiss Post has found an established buyer in the sector that will take over and continue to employ all staff. SecurePost’s business operations are to be transferred to Loomis Schweiz AG on 1 May 2021. A consultation process will begin on 31 March 2021, during which Secure Post Ltd employees will have the opportunity to express their views on the planned measures. The sale to an international company able to operate efficiently under the more stringent regulatory and actuarial conditions will ensure the provision of high-quality cash transportation services in Switzerland in future and also represents a future-oriented step for the workforce. The parties have agreed that the sale price and purchase conditions of the transaction will remain confidential.
About SecurePost Ltd
SecurePost Ltd is a subsidiary (100%) of Post CH Ltd and specializes in all-in security logistics solutions. The range of services extends from the transportation of money and valuables, to cash processing, to the servicing of automated teller machines. SecurePost Ltd does not have a statutory mandate from the Confederation – but it does support PostFinance’s mandates through its provision of cash.
The cash transport company was founded in 2003, with the aim of guaranteeing the supply of cash to Swiss Post branches through a new, secure channel. Cash had previously been supplied via the Railway Mail Service. SecurePost Ltd is now one of the biggest security logistics operators in the Swiss market.
Source : https://www.post.ch/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2021
5. Royal Mail offers Parcel Collect free of charge until 30 May
March 29, 2021
From now until 30 May 2021, Royal Mail will collect up to five parcels a day for free, on top of postage, from consumers across the UK with Parcel Collect*.
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In order to use the service, which normally includes a pick-up charge of 72p for a parcel or 60p for a return item, customers simply need to ensure they have already paid the correct postage to send their item.
If an item does not have pre-paid postage, customers are able to pay for their postage online using Click & Drop available by visiting send.royalmail.com or via the Royal Mail App.
Customers must book a collection via Parcel Collect. When a postman or postwoman collects the parcel, the customer will receive an email notification that acts as proof of postage.
Launched in October 2020, Parcel Collect has enabled postmen and postwomen to collect parcels and returns from customers while they carry out their daily round. As well as offering even higher levels of convenience, the move enables online sellers and online shoppers to mail or return a pre-paid item by post from the comfort of their own home. Since launch, postmen and postwomen have collected over one million parcels.
As part of the service, postmen and postwomen will collect a parcel from the customer’s door or nominated safe place. Parcel Collect is also available for pre-paid return items.
Royal Mail can collect up to five parcels at a time. Parcel Collect is available six days a week** and can be booked up to five days in advance and up to midnight the day before.
Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, said: “The introduction of Parcel Collect has been incredibly successful. This promotion is an opportunity for all consumers across the UK to try out this fantastic service free of charge. Parcel Collect is part of our commitment to continuously make our services more convenient as we re-invent the way we deliver to and from our customers.”
Source : https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases.
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