POSTAL NEWS
No 47-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. Cainiao to support Hainan free trade port. June 18, 2021.
2. USPS Issues Statement on Juneteenth National Independence Day. June 17, 2021.
3. NZ Post delaying mail in favour of parcels, union claims some homes getting mail just once a week. June 16, 2021.
4. New: Secure and convenient online payments in My bpost app. June 15, 2021.
5. Posti opens a national VAT helpline – all goods and publications from outside the EU will be subject to customs clearance as of July 1, 2021. June 14, 2021.
1. Cainiao to support Hainan free trade port
June 18, 2021
Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, says it has entered a strategic partnership with the government of the Chinese city of Hainan to support the development of the Hainan global smart supply chain pilot zone.
Hainan, China’s largest Special Economic Zone, is a key port along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
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In June last year, the Chinese authorities released a masterplan for the construction of the Hainan free trade port, which will transform the entire island province into a free trade port.
As part of the partnership, Cainiao will leverage its global logistics capabilities and technology to establish Hainan as a trade center and pilot model for the digital economy. The company says it will work closely with Hainan to provide holistic smart logistics services to merchants from around the world.
The public-private partnership includes four key areas:
Establishment of a comprehensive smart logistics infrastructure on Hainan’s main and outlying islands to attract duty-free merchants
Launch of Hainan free trade port merchant smart service center
Upgrading of Hainan’s global freight network
Development of Hainan’s global supply chain center
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/cross-border/
2. USPS Issues Statement on Juneteenth National Independence Day
June 17, 2021
The NPMHU is in discussions with the USPS regarding observance and recognition of this important day. We remain committed to ensuring appropriate recognition of Juneteenth National Independence Day. Please watch union publications for additional details.
President Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17,2021, making June 19 a federal holiday. This new holiday commemorates the final end to slavery in the United States and the Postal Service is fully supportive of annually observing and setting aside a day to recognize this historic event.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to cease the operations of the Postal Service to accommodate an observance over the next 24-48 hours. We are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure and our customers are relying on us to deliver our essential services. Closing down our operations without providing appropriate time would lead to operational disruptions and be a disservice to our customers and those who rely upon us. For that reason, the Postal Service will be operating on June 18 and 19, 2021, on a normal schedule, serving our customers to the best of our ability.
Please immediately communicate our operating status to your employees.
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The Postal Service will discuss future recognition of this significant new holiday with our national.
Unions, Management Associations, and other stakeholders, consistent with our collective bargaining and consultative obligations under Title 39. Once those discussions take place, we will update you on appropriate developments, but we reiterate that we are fully supportive of this important national holiday.
Source : https://www.npmhu.org/media/news
3. NZ Post delaying mail in favour of parcels, union claims some homes getting mail just once a week
June 16, 2021
NZ Post has directed its posties to prioritise courier parcels over post, with a union claiming this means some homes get only one mail delivery each week.
The claims by the Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa are being downplayed by NZ Post, which says mail is only unprioritised as a last resort and only after every other avenue to get mail delivered on the day has failed. Just 1.43 per cent of mail was returned to base undelivered at the end of the days during May, figures supplied by NZ Post show.
NZ Post has been forced to reinvent itself in recent years with post shop closures commonplace and the rise of the internet leading to a steep drop in post.
The Government gave NZ Post $130 million over three years in its 2020 Budget to allow it to maintain its service levels.
Union organiser John Maynard said posties around the country were now “regularly reporting to the union their concerns about the large amounts of mail that are not taken out for delivery or are being returned to the delivery depots undelivered because of overwhelming workloads”.
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Posties were told on March 4 of NZ Post’s new priorities when the workload exceeded time in the paid day: Tracked courier parcels were top priority, followed by tracked mail, then regular mail, he said.
“Posties are then left to explain to frustrated residents and businesses why sometimes they only get one mail delivery a week,” Maynard said.
The union was happy with posties taking parcels but Maynard said the workload was now so large that it was common for mail deliveries to be put on hold.
NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main said posties were “not told to prioritise” though he confirmed a memo was sent out on March 4. That memo spelled out the process if all mail could not be delivered on time, starting with posties calling in to get help to finish the round that day.
If that failed, posties were asked if they could do overtime to finish the entire run on the day. Only if that failed were they asked to deliver courier parcels as a priority.
“Very rarely do you get all the way down there,” he said.
When that happened, NZ Post tried to get someone out the following day – as opposed to the next scheduled day – to finish delivering the mail, he said.
NZ Post supplied a copy of the March 4 memo, which said leaders should only assign a workload that could be done in a day but, if that could not happen, spelled out steps posties should take.
Maynard said overtime was actively discouraged in many sites and, while the first port of call for a postie behind schedule, was to ask for help, there was usually no help available.
NZ Post, a state-owned enterprise, posted a $31 million profit in the year to December 2019 and, soon after, chief executive David Walsh said the delivery of 34 million parcels in the previous six months was to thank for that.
“While there is no doubt that the growth in profit generated from parcel delivery is good news, NZ Post continues to manage the challenge of a declining number of letters being sent,” he said.
Source : https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125455740
4. New: Secure and convenient online payments in My bpost app
June 15, 2021
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bpost continues to invest in innovative services, always putting customers at the heart of things.
A new EU law comes into effect on 1 July 2021 for purchases made outside the EU (including the United Kingdom), which primarily impacts shipments with a value of up to 22 euros. That means that VAT and any customs charges will be payable on all shipments from non-EU online stores that arrive in Belgium on and after 1 July.
To meet the new needs resulting from this change, bpost has launched a new secure method of payment in the My bpost app and in Track & Trace for the payment of customs charges (and VAT) on shipments arriving from outside the EU. Payments can no longer be made to the mail carrier or at the pick-up point. Secure advance payment in the My bpost app or in Track & Trace is the only option.
This is safer, more secure and more convenient for both recipients and mail carriers. The recipient does not have to go looking for cash or a bankcard in a rush. And after payment, the parcel will be delivered in accordance with the recipient’s preferences. And the recipient can check all the details in the app or in Track & Trace.
It’s also safer for the mail carrier, who no longer has to drive around with cash. The mail carrier will be able to work more efficiently and serve more satisfied customers.
Note that parcels will not be delivered until all due charges have been paid in full.
These are the different steps for the new payment process: Already available for shipments with a value higher than 22 euros:
• bpost will inform you via the My bpost app, by SMS, mail or letter
• you will find an overview of the costs in the My bpost app or on the Track & Trace page
• you pay the sum with your banking app, credit card or Bancontact
• is the payment OK? Your parcel will be presented to customs for a check
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• when everything is approved, bpost will deliver your package as soon as possible
Source : https://press.bpost.be/
5. Posti opens a national VAT helpline – all goods and publications from outside the EU will be subject to customs clearance as of July 1, 2021
June 14, 2021
From July 1, 2021, a new EU Directive enters into force and all goods and publications arriving from outside the EU will be subject to customs clearance. At the moment, online purchases with a maximum value of €22 can be received in Finland free of tax.
Posti opens a new VAT guidance helpline on 15 June, which will provide customers with help and information on customs clearance of parcels and publications arriving from outside the EU.
By calling the toll-free number 0100 2215, you will get service in English, Finnish and Swedish Monday to Friday 8-18 and on Saturday from 9-16.
“The VAT reform will influence the daily lives of many Finnish online shoppers. Finns order a lot of goods from, for example, China, the United States and the United Kingdom and, after the change in July, all parcels and publications – also those that used to be free of tax – must undergo customs clearance.
We have hired 45 new customer advisors for June–August to help our customers,” says Laura Inttilä, Director, Customer Service and Retail, Parcel & eCommerce.
The easiest option is to buy from an online store where VAT can be paid immediately when buying a product. Online stores state on their website whether VAT can be paid at the time of purchase.
“I’d like to remind everyone of one thing that makes customs clearance easier and the delivery of purchases faster. When buying from an online store, you should always provide your real email address and mobile phone number. We send notices of arrival to the addresses that we receive from the online store. If the information is not correct, you will not receive the notice,” Inttilä points out.
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2021
POSTAL NEWS
No 48-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
1. 87.60 percent of first-class mail delivered on-time against the USPS service standard. June 18, 2021.
2. UK hospital trust trials riverboat parcel delivery service. June 17, 2021. 3. La Poste: the first "public company with a mission". June 16, 2021. 4. Japan Post working on drone mail delivery. June 16, 2021.
5. Rapping postwoman gives a modern ode to fatherhood in Royal Mail film. June 14, 2021.
1. 87.60 percent of first-class mail delivered on-time against the USPS service standard
June 18, 2021 The U.S. Postal Service provided updated third quarter service performance data through the week of June 11th which shows steady performance improvement since the second quarter.
Performance numbers below include the weeks of April 1 through June 11:
• First-Class Mail: 87.60 percent of First-Class Mail delivered on-time against the USPS service standard, an over 9 percent increase over the second quarter.
• Marketing Mail: 90.40 percent of Marketing Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an over 5 percent increase over the second quarter.
• Periodicals: 78.80 percent of Periodicals delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an over 7 percent increase over the second quarter.
As laid out in its 10-year plan “Delivering for America,” the Postal Service continues its efforts to improve service performance and reliability while addressing ongoing employee availability challenges with the goal of meeting or exceeding 95 percent on-time delivery across mail and shipping product classes.
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The Postal Service recently announced network enhancements and investments currently underway to prepare for the 2021 holiday peak season. These initiatives include the procurement of 138 package sorters to meet higher package volume, the leasing of 45 annex facilities within 5 miles of existing facilities to accommodate surges in demand ahead of the 2021 peak holiday season, and the completion of operational mail moves previously paused in 2015 at 18 facilities.
Service performance is defined by the Postal Service from acceptance of a mailpiece into our system through delivery, measured against published service standards.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/138692/news/e-commerce
2. UK hospital trust trials riverboat parcel delivery service
June 17, 2021
London-based Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has become the first in the UK to pilot a daily riverboat delivery service as part of plans to reduce its carbon footprint. The Trust has teamed up with Ceva Logistics and Livett’s Group to trial the service on the River Thames.
If the proof-of-concept pilot is successful, the service will operate on a larger scale, removing trucks from the capital’s roads while providing a reliable delivery route into London during the day. The Trust’s three delivery trucks currently travel around 1,500 miles per week. For each truck removed from the road, it says approximately 708kg of CO2 could be saved per week.
The riverboat pilot service will run twice a day, five days a week. Parcels will be loaded onto the boat at Dartford International Ferry Terminal in Kent, before making the journey to Butler’s Wharf Pier in London.
The parcels, which include clinical supplies for operating theaters, will then be transported by Absolutely, the final-mile delivery partner, on electric cargo bikes to Guy’s Hospital.
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In 2019 the Trust worked with Ceva Logistics to open a consolidation supply chain hub in Dartford close to the M25, which has reduced the number of daily truck deliveries onto its hospital sites by 90%. The Trust says it is also planning to introduce a fleet of three large electric trucks to deliver consolidated deliveries from the supply chain hub.
This initiative followed the switch from vans and motorbikes to cargo bikes when transporting blood and tumors for testing between Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital.
David Lawson, chief procurement officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’, commented, “The riverboat pilot forms a key part in our ambition to remove over 40,000 truck deliveries from central London roads each year. We also want to encourage and support other organizations to adopt the use of zero-emission delivery models to improve air quality for the communities that we serve.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/sustainability
3. La Poste: the first "public company with a mission"
June 16, 2021
The PACTE law (law relating to the growth and transformation of companies) of May 22, 2019 enshrined in the Civil Code and the Commercial Code the concept of the social interest of the company.
Two years after its vote, it now makes La Poste the first French public company to hold the status of "business with mission" . The purpose of a business with a mission is to reconcile the search for economic performance with its contribution to the general interest.
Thus, these two concepts, one commercial and the other societal, which are generally opposed due to their natively divergent nature, are now intended to form a balanced duo. This duo articulates the market economy with sustainable development and aims to
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create the basis of a responsible economy, which is not without impact on the governance of the company.
If the bet is ambitious, the fact remains that postal workers will be called upon to do everything possible to win it. Because, in the event of failure, a procedure is foreseen for the withdrawal of the quality " from company to mission " . Clearly, any other path than that of success would lead to leaving to others the task of eventually filling all the shortcomings of the company.
Some will see this new statute as the marriage of carp and rabbit, while others will find it a great opportunity for La Poste to set in stone the public service missions for which it has fully assumed responsibility for generations (service universal press distribution and mail delivery 6 days a week, banking accessibility, regional planning).
And as a reminder, the strategic plan “La Poste 2030, engaged for you” , presented to the Board of Directors on February 26, incorporates four commitments which are:
• the contribution to the development and cohesion of the territories;
• promoting social inclusion;
• the promotion of ethical, inclusive and frugal digital technology;
• the contribution to the acceleration of the ecological transition for all.
The raison d'être of La Poste, which has always had the fundamental mission of connecting people everywhere on the territory, remains the same: “At the service of all, useful to everyone, La Poste, a company of human and territorial proximity, develops the exchanges and forges essential links by contributing to the common goods of society as a whole. "
In any case, for FO, it will first include the post office workers at the heart of the strategy, without selling their health in the name of " all economic " . Because, without them and without them, there will be no future for La Poste.
Source : http://www.focom-laposte.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06
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4. Japan Post working on drone mail delivery
June 16, 2021
In part due to issues with recruitment of new staff, Japan Post has announced plans to have a mail drone delivery operation by 2023.
The postal operator is working with Tokyo based Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory (ACSL) to develop a drone delivery service to remote island and mountain communities around the Japanese archipelago.
Japan’s ageing population poses a recruitment problem for Japan Post, which has issues in taking on new postmen and postwomen as a result.
ACSL is a commercial drone maker that aims to put commercial drone deliveries into operation. Currently the company and Japan Post are working on the air traffic control that would allow them to fly their drones uninterrupted in Japanese airspace.
Japan Post President Kazuhide Kinugawa stated, “We are at the forefront of logistics innovation, combining Japan Post’s delivery prowess with the technology and know-how of the largest domestic industrial drone manufacturer.”
Source : https://apex-insight.com/japan-post-working-on-drone-mail-delivery
5. Rapping postwoman gives a modern ode to fatherhood in Royal Mail film
June 14, 2021
The spot captures the mood of being separated from – and reconnecting to – loved ones.
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With Father’s Day fast approaching, Royal Mail has enlisted a rapping postwoman to impart the importance of sending a card or gift in time for the event this Sunday (20 June).
Amira Rahmoune, from Harrow, London, composed Guiding Light as a contemporary nod to the occasion in a 90-second spot created by the in-house social team at Royal Mail.
It features Amira reflecting on the challenges of the past year and the impact it has had on personal relationships both for her and the country as a whole.
Her own father makes a cameo appearance in the ad, as well as poignant and personal images from Royal Mail staff with their own fathers, with a special section dedicated to those who have sadly lost their dads. It also casts an eye over the different types of father figures that individuals may have, including grandfathers, adoptive and foster dads.
Rahmoune wrote the music and lyrics for the film, which features on Royal Mail’s social media channels from this week. In it, she is pictured delivering a Father’s Day gift to a customer, prompting her to daydream about spending time with her own dad.
The daydream then becomes a reality, when a Parcelforce Worldwide postman delivers a barbecue to her father, which enables her to spend some much-needed quality time with him.
Rahmoune said: “I loved working on this campaign, it was very close to my heart. I haven’t been staying with my dad since lockdown as he is high risk, and being a postie, you’re in contact with hundreds of people and households a day, so I had no choice but to stay away to keep my family as safe as possible.
“I know this has been the reality for many people this past year, and making the song was a way of helping connect everybody during these turbulent times, as we have all been through it.”
Source : https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article