POSTAL NEWS
No 69 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
FedEx Strengthens Freight Forwarding and Brokerage Capabilities in Latin America with Acquisition of Cargex. August 29, 2019.
Identity services in post offices. August 28, 2019.
APWU: Interest Arbitration Hearings Scheduled in September and October. August 26, 2019.
Brazil’s government to announce privatisation of correios. August 23, 2019.
Japan Post reveals 104,000 Aflac policies improperly sold, bringing total from insurance debacle to 287,000. August 21, 2019.
FedEx Strengthens Freight Forwarding and Brokerage Capabilities in Latin America with Acquisition of Cargex
August 29, 2019
FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Cargex S.A., an international freight forwarding company with over 25 years of experience with a focus in export management of perishable goods, and Agencias de Aduanas Aduanamos S.A. Nivel 2, an affiliate of Cargex specializing in customs brokerage services. This addition strengthens the FedEx air freight forwarding and customs brokerage capabilities in Colombia and the broader Latin American region. The acquisition is expected to close later this year and is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as a Colombian regulatory filing.
Headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, Cargex has operations in Bogotá, Medellin, Cartagena, Buenaventura, and Santa Marta, and would operate as a subsidiary of FedEx Logistics upon closing.
“The addition of Cargex offers future growth opportunities in the Latin American region, a key market for us,” said Udo Lange, chief operating officer and incoming president and CEO, FedEx Logistics. “This acquisition perfectly complements the roundtrip Colombia-to-Miami flight recently announced by FedEx Express. We will connect customers throughout the Latin American market with even more possibilities by combining world-class FedEx transportation solutions with a comprehensive line of logistics service offerings. We look forward to welcoming our new team members into the FedEx family and will utilize their expertise to make this integration a success.”
“The Cargex team looks forward to joining FedEx and combining our experience with theirs to expand business opportunities in the Latin American region,” said Pablo Torres, General Manager and Angela Torres, Commercial Manager, Cargex. “With this acquisition, we will have access to an even larger global network, allowing us to help customers reach even more markets around the world.”
Source : https://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom
Identity services in post offices
August 28, 2019
Identity services are seen as a core component of post office services in the future.
Post office networks have nationwide coverage, with high community trust, and are ideally situated to offer identity services – either on behalf of government or as a service to the private sector.
UK: Post Office offers easy access to identity services
In the UK, the Post Office has joined the Government Digital Framework, GCloud 11, enabling government departments to offer people a suite of ‘bricks and clicks’ identity services, including Digital Identity, In-branch Verification, and Document Certification.
Being part of the framework streamlines the entire procurement process for any UK government department that wants to use the Post Office’s identity services..
There are three Post Office identity services available on the framework:
Digital Identity – enabling users to prove who they are and to share verified data and documents straight from their device. Uses include government and financial services, health and welfare, travel, and age-restricted retail.
In-branch verification – face-to-face identity verification
Document certification – certifies copies of original documents (e.g. common forms of ID such as passports and driving licences) with additional digital image capture available, if required
The advantage to government of leveraging the Post Office network is its reach (11,500 outlets, with 93% of the UK population living within 1 mile of a Post Office) and its existing counter and retail technology.
Post Office already provides identity services to a range of government partners, including DVLA, Her Majesty’s Passport Office, and the Cabinet Office
“By helping customers to prove who they are in an easy and inclusive manner, we believe we will remove barriers that impede access to key services such as Universal Credit, and passport applications.” - Martin Edwards, Managing Director of Identity Services at Post Office
Australia Post’s employment screening service
Australia Post has launched a new employment screening service called Workforce Verification. The service offers employers a streamlined and efficient verification solution.
Background employment checks are becoming common in Australia, for the private and public sector. The Australia Post Workforce Verification service includes identity, police, and visa checks in one interface. More sophisticated identity, qualification and integrity checks will be added to the platform in future.
“The strength of our offering is the flexibility to offer a dual online and in-store process, leveraging our extensive network of post offices.” - Australia Post Head of Product - Identity Services Christian Seely
Australia Post has already signed on nine customers.
Passport Services
UK citizens can renew their passports at the Post Office (selected branches only). In Australia, post offices offer passport applications and renewals. Not all post offices offer passport services - the Australian Passport Office determines which locations are authorised to perform passport interviews and renewals.
The US Postal Service has operated as an agent for the U.S. Department of State to process passport applications since the 1970s. There are 4,800 US post offices that can process passport applications.
What’s next?
The over-the-counter transaction business in post offices is mature. Increasingly, customers do their banking online and pay bills online.
A key part of securing a profitable and sustainable future for post offices is to become the public face of government. Post offices have the capacity to provide a range of government services, such as passport services, ID checks, payment of fines, property transfer transactions, and other interactions with government that have to be done in person.
Post offices are ideally situated to offer government services – especially in areas outside major population centres.
Additional business from government transactions will help maintain profitability of post offices - in particular franchised post offices - leveraging the post office network’s nationwide coverage, high community trust, and technology and communications infrastructure.
Source : http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
APWU: Interest Arbitration Hearings Scheduled in September and October
August 26, 2019
The location for the interest arbitration’s opening hearings has been set. The hearings will take place at the Washington DC National Mall Hilton, located at 480 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024. Interest arbitration will determine the terms of the next contract.
The hearing will begin at 10:00 am, and APWU members are welcome to attend. Members will have an opportunity to hear both the APWU and the USPS lay out what they plan on presenting to the three-member arbitration panel over the course of the interest arbitration and hear the demands each party will be making in arbitration.
Based on panel chair Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg’s availability, hearings will then continue on September 24-26, 2019 and October 10-11, 2019. The parties expect to complete all hearings by the end of the year.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Brazil’s government to announce privatisation of correios
August 23, 2019
Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos (Correios) is on the list of seventeen state-owned companies that will be privatised later this year, according to Brazilian media outlet G1.
In the justifications for the privatisation of the postal service, Minister of Economy Paulo Guedes points to corruption, political interference in the management of the company, inefficiency, constant strikes and loss of market to private companies in the delivery of goods sold over the Internet and e-commerce.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/113453/news
Japan Post reveals 104,000 Aflac policies improperly sold, bringing total from insurance debacle to 287,000
August 21, 2019
Scandal-hit Japan Post Co. improperly sold around 104,000 insurance policies issued by U.S. partner Aflac Inc., sources close to the matter said Wednesday, bringing the total for inappropriately sold policies to 287,000 nationwide.
As the debacle expands, the problems are being blamed on the postal and financial behemoth’s failure to update its customer data management system, the sources said. Japan Post said the problem will take until October to fix.
The actions of Japan Post, which sells Aflac policies at post offices nationwide, resulted in customers becoming temporarily uninsured and or being double charged for a one-year period that ended in May this year, the sources said.
Japan Post halted sales of its own and third-party life insurance products after admitting in July to conducting inappropriate sales of around 183,000 policies and leaving customers at a disadvantage over the past five years.
It continues to sell Aflac’s cancer insurance products, however, treating them as an exception.
Aflac has long been a leader in cancer insurance in Japan. It signed a business partnership with Japan Post Holdings in 2013 and agreed last December to receive direct investment from Japan Post to expand their cooperation.
Under an arrangement with Aflac, a new customer cannot be insured for three months after he or she purchases the insurance to prevent a person who has already developed cancer from receiving a payout.
The rule caused people switching to a new Aflac insurance policy from an old one to pay for both contracts or be left without coverage for three months.
Since 2014, Aflac eliminated the duplication of premium payments in a contract renewal, but Japan Post did not make the necessary upgrade to its computer system to reflect that change, the sources said.
“There have been far more new purchases of the insurance than switches of contracts,” resulting in a delay in the system upgrade, a Japan Post official said.
The number of policy switches has risen recently following the launch of a new Aflac policy, the sources said.
Source : https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/21/business/corporate-business
POSTAL NEWS
No 70 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
United we stand as arbitration continues. August 29, 2019.
Flight-based logistics taken a “big step forward,” says Yamato. August 28, 2019.
Royal Mail exceeds quality of service targets. August 27, 2019.
Australia Post’s future tied to ambitious sustainability commitments. August 26, 2019.
NZ Post price changes affecting competitors' profits.
August 26, 2019.
United we stand as arbitration continues
August 29, 2019
We know this arbitration process has been long and that the end doesn’t seem near, but as the members will have to live with the changes to the collective agreements for many years it is important for CUPW negotiators to thoroughly present all our evidence. They have interviewed countless witnesses to ensure the arbitrator is equipped with all of the facts. Canada Post is now presenting their case. When they have finished, our negotiators will have the opportunity to provide rebuttal evidence against all of Canada Post’s testimony and evidence.
The work your negotiators have done is not limited to the days spent at the bargaining table or in arbitration hearings. Your negotiating committees have spent days, weeks and months putting together the strongest case possible for arbitration.
We know you’re frustrated. We’re frustrated too. We all would have preferred a negotiated agreement through free collective bargaining. It is our right and we continue to ask Canada Post to meet us at the bargaining table as our negotiators truly believe they can come to an agreement.
Despite these frustrations, I am proud of all of our members for continuing to provide customers with the best and most professional services. Canadians love their public postal system because of you and the work you do does not go unnoticed.
In the meantime, we will not be quiet. We will push our issues during the federal election campaign and work together across the country to make sure worker-friendly candidates are elected.
We need new contracts. We need better health and safety measures. We need to be fairly compensated for the work we do. We need the Corporation to stop relying on overtime to meet delivery times. We need a government that will invest in the future of Canada Post and the future of its workers.
Our negotiators are doing their part in arbitration. Let’s do ours on the campaign trail.
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
Flight-based logistics taken a “big step forward,” says Yamato
August 28, 2019
An unmanned delivery drone jointly developed by Yamato Holdings Co. and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. of the U.S. made its first successful flight in in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas this week.
Autonomous Pod Transport 70 was tested on Monday. The two companies hope to put the drone into service in Japan by the early 2020s, before taking it global.
During the test, the APT 70 took off vertically and cruised horizontally about 50 metres off the ground for a few minutes before setting down. Bell said the aircraft can travel at 160 kph and carry to 32 kg.
“Our team has created innovative solutions with the potential to change how the market approaches civilian logistics,” said Mitch Snyder, president and CEO, Bell. “Together, we will continue refining technologies to produce an efficient and agile vehicle that operates safely in the ecosystem.”
“Having the success of the demonstration today, we shall accelerate our technical and service development to enter our innovative service by the early-2020s,” said Yutaka Nagao, Yamato’s President who attended the test.
The test “marked the start of a new logistics business model,” he said.
The drone — with a body by Bell and a cargo pod by Yamato — is 2.7 meters wide, 1.8 meters tall and weighs about 160 kg. It has a range of 56 km and can operate in nearly the same weather conditions as aircraft, the companies said.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/113901/news/e-commerce
Royal Mail exceeds quality of service targets
August 27, 2019
Royal Mail’s latest Quality of Service report reveals that the company has exceeded its regulatory targets for First and Second Class mail for the first quarter of the financial year 2019-2020.
During the first quarter of the year leading up to June 30, 2019, Royal Mail delivered 93.2% of First Class mail the next working day against a target of 93.0%. The company delivered 98.9% of Second Class mail within three working days against a regulatory target of 98.5%.
Royal Mail is the only UK mail delivery company required to publish Quality of Service performance against delivery targets every quarter. It has one of the highest Quality of Service specifications of any major European country.
Paul O’Keefe, director of quality and customer, Royal Mail, said, “We are delighted to have exceeded both our First Class and Second Class Quality of Service regulatory targets for the first quarter of the financial year. Royal Mail has one of the highest Quality of Service specifications of any major European country and our postmen and women work extremely hard to deliver high standards of service to all our customers across the UK.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/operations
Australia Post’s future tied to ambitious sustainability commitments
August 26, 2019
Australia Post has announced a new three-year plan with 19 commitments that will create economic, social and environmental value for the Australian community.
As a sign of its action on those commitments, it has also announced that it will be launching a new range of recycled and recyclable plastic satchels, as it moves away from using virgin plastic and gives used plastic another life.
The first recycled plastic satchel will be launched with major customer Country Road this year in time for Christmas, with a transition across the business in early 2020.
Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Christine Holgate said Australia Post was building on its long, proud history of responsible citizenship.
“One of the things about sustainability and doing things like recycled packaging is for the people that work in your business. They want to work for organisations where they’ve got strong values,” Ms Holgate said.
Coming into effect last month, the new Plan is underpinned by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the world’s sustainability agenda for 2030.
Australia Post has charted its path with a suite of “2030 aspirations”, aligned to the SDGs it impacts the most, including achieving world-class safety metrics, gender equality across the business, and becoming a low-carbon logistics provider.
The Plan outlines Australia Post’s intent to put sustainability front and centre of all it does while also meeting increased customer demand for sustainable products, services and solutions.
“All of our big delivery facilities now use solar generation for electricity – we’re one of the biggest property owner and tenants – so it’s not about spending more, but spending wisely,” Ms Holgate said.
The commitments are grouped within three themes:
Everyone is included – creating vibrant, inclusive communities; and providing safe, fair and fulfilling work for our extended workforce
Everyone prospers – by delivering responsibly and profitably; and providing great customer experiences
Everyone thrives – by reducing our environmental impacts and facilitating a circular economy.
“The people of Australia expect us to do more – there’s a bigger expectation on an organisation that provides a community service to be leading in this type of work,” Ms Holgate said.
In recent months, Australia Post has won several awards for its corporate responsibility practices, including a global Corporate Register award for its integrated report outlining its financial, social and environmental performance.
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
NZ Post price changes affecting competitors' profits
August 26, 2019
Courier and data management company Freightways' profit has been held back by higher labour costs as competition hits its courier businesses.
Its net profit rose 2 percent to $63.4 million in the year to June, boosted by an insurance payout from earthquake-damaged structures.
Revenue rose 6 percent to $615.7m on the back of courier price increases.
Freightways brands include New Zealand Couriers and Post Haste Couriers.
Chief executive Mark Troughear said it had been caught by the slowing economy, forcing it to review pricing.
"The first half was characterised by solid organic growth, whereas same-customer volume flattened off noticeably in the second half of the year," he said.
"Some hard calls were also made on low margin business during the year, with pricing reviews for customers where margins were unacceptably low for the value provided through our networks.
"The results were pleasing for the year when these factors, alongside material contractor earnings and wage increases, were also taken into account."
Mr Troughear said its competitor, the state-owned New Zealand Post, was attacking its small postal business, DX Mail.
"[It] has come under direct attack from NZ Post's new zonal pricing structure for bulk mail, which effectively offers the cheapest rates to those areas that DX Mail delivers into, and more expensive rates to those areas where DX Mail does not deliver."
The Commerce Commission has launched a preliminary investigation into New Zealand Post's pricing changes, he said.
Source : https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/397534
No 69 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
FedEx Strengthens Freight Forwarding and Brokerage Capabilities in Latin America with Acquisition of Cargex. August 29, 2019.
Identity services in post offices. August 28, 2019.
APWU: Interest Arbitration Hearings Scheduled in September and October. August 26, 2019.
Brazil’s government to announce privatisation of correios. August 23, 2019.
Japan Post reveals 104,000 Aflac policies improperly sold, bringing total from insurance debacle to 287,000. August 21, 2019.
FedEx Strengthens Freight Forwarding and Brokerage Capabilities in Latin America with Acquisition of Cargex
August 29, 2019
FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Cargex S.A., an international freight forwarding company with over 25 years of experience with a focus in export management of perishable goods, and Agencias de Aduanas Aduanamos S.A. Nivel 2, an affiliate of Cargex specializing in customs brokerage services. This addition strengthens the FedEx air freight forwarding and customs brokerage capabilities in Colombia and the broader Latin American region. The acquisition is expected to close later this year and is subject to customary closing conditions, as well as a Colombian regulatory filing.
Headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, Cargex has operations in Bogotá, Medellin, Cartagena, Buenaventura, and Santa Marta, and would operate as a subsidiary of FedEx Logistics upon closing.
“The addition of Cargex offers future growth opportunities in the Latin American region, a key market for us,” said Udo Lange, chief operating officer and incoming president and CEO, FedEx Logistics. “This acquisition perfectly complements the roundtrip Colombia-to-Miami flight recently announced by FedEx Express. We will connect customers throughout the Latin American market with even more possibilities by combining world-class FedEx transportation solutions with a comprehensive line of logistics service offerings. We look forward to welcoming our new team members into the FedEx family and will utilize their expertise to make this integration a success.”
“The Cargex team looks forward to joining FedEx and combining our experience with theirs to expand business opportunities in the Latin American region,” said Pablo Torres, General Manager and Angela Torres, Commercial Manager, Cargex. “With this acquisition, we will have access to an even larger global network, allowing us to help customers reach even more markets around the world.”
Source : https://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom
Identity services in post offices
August 28, 2019
Identity services are seen as a core component of post office services in the future.
Post office networks have nationwide coverage, with high community trust, and are ideally situated to offer identity services – either on behalf of government or as a service to the private sector.
UK: Post Office offers easy access to identity services
In the UK, the Post Office has joined the Government Digital Framework, GCloud 11, enabling government departments to offer people a suite of ‘bricks and clicks’ identity services, including Digital Identity, In-branch Verification, and Document Certification.
Being part of the framework streamlines the entire procurement process for any UK government department that wants to use the Post Office’s identity services..
There are three Post Office identity services available on the framework:
Digital Identity – enabling users to prove who they are and to share verified data and documents straight from their device. Uses include government and financial services, health and welfare, travel, and age-restricted retail.
In-branch verification – face-to-face identity verification
Document certification – certifies copies of original documents (e.g. common forms of ID such as passports and driving licences) with additional digital image capture available, if required
The advantage to government of leveraging the Post Office network is its reach (11,500 outlets, with 93% of the UK population living within 1 mile of a Post Office) and its existing counter and retail technology.
Post Office already provides identity services to a range of government partners, including DVLA, Her Majesty’s Passport Office, and the Cabinet Office
“By helping customers to prove who they are in an easy and inclusive manner, we believe we will remove barriers that impede access to key services such as Universal Credit, and passport applications.” - Martin Edwards, Managing Director of Identity Services at Post Office
Australia Post’s employment screening service
Australia Post has launched a new employment screening service called Workforce Verification. The service offers employers a streamlined and efficient verification solution.
Background employment checks are becoming common in Australia, for the private and public sector. The Australia Post Workforce Verification service includes identity, police, and visa checks in one interface. More sophisticated identity, qualification and integrity checks will be added to the platform in future.
“The strength of our offering is the flexibility to offer a dual online and in-store process, leveraging our extensive network of post offices.” - Australia Post Head of Product - Identity Services Christian Seely
Australia Post has already signed on nine customers.
Passport Services
UK citizens can renew their passports at the Post Office (selected branches only). In Australia, post offices offer passport applications and renewals. Not all post offices offer passport services - the Australian Passport Office determines which locations are authorised to perform passport interviews and renewals.
The US Postal Service has operated as an agent for the U.S. Department of State to process passport applications since the 1970s. There are 4,800 US post offices that can process passport applications.
What’s next?
The over-the-counter transaction business in post offices is mature. Increasingly, customers do their banking online and pay bills online.
A key part of securing a profitable and sustainable future for post offices is to become the public face of government. Post offices have the capacity to provide a range of government services, such as passport services, ID checks, payment of fines, property transfer transactions, and other interactions with government that have to be done in person.
Post offices are ideally situated to offer government services – especially in areas outside major population centres.
Additional business from government transactions will help maintain profitability of post offices - in particular franchised post offices - leveraging the post office network’s nationwide coverage, high community trust, and technology and communications infrastructure.
Source : http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
APWU: Interest Arbitration Hearings Scheduled in September and October
August 26, 2019
The location for the interest arbitration’s opening hearings has been set. The hearings will take place at the Washington DC National Mall Hilton, located at 480 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024. Interest arbitration will determine the terms of the next contract.
The hearing will begin at 10:00 am, and APWU members are welcome to attend. Members will have an opportunity to hear both the APWU and the USPS lay out what they plan on presenting to the three-member arbitration panel over the course of the interest arbitration and hear the demands each party will be making in arbitration.
Based on panel chair Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg’s availability, hearings will then continue on September 24-26, 2019 and October 10-11, 2019. The parties expect to complete all hearings by the end of the year.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
Brazil’s government to announce privatisation of correios
August 23, 2019
Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos (Correios) is on the list of seventeen state-owned companies that will be privatised later this year, according to Brazilian media outlet G1.
In the justifications for the privatisation of the postal service, Minister of Economy Paulo Guedes points to corruption, political interference in the management of the company, inefficiency, constant strikes and loss of market to private companies in the delivery of goods sold over the Internet and e-commerce.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/113453/news
Japan Post reveals 104,000 Aflac policies improperly sold, bringing total from insurance debacle to 287,000
August 21, 2019
Scandal-hit Japan Post Co. improperly sold around 104,000 insurance policies issued by U.S. partner Aflac Inc., sources close to the matter said Wednesday, bringing the total for inappropriately sold policies to 287,000 nationwide.
As the debacle expands, the problems are being blamed on the postal and financial behemoth’s failure to update its customer data management system, the sources said. Japan Post said the problem will take until October to fix.
The actions of Japan Post, which sells Aflac policies at post offices nationwide, resulted in customers becoming temporarily uninsured and or being double charged for a one-year period that ended in May this year, the sources said.
Japan Post halted sales of its own and third-party life insurance products after admitting in July to conducting inappropriate sales of around 183,000 policies and leaving customers at a disadvantage over the past five years.
It continues to sell Aflac’s cancer insurance products, however, treating them as an exception.
Aflac has long been a leader in cancer insurance in Japan. It signed a business partnership with Japan Post Holdings in 2013 and agreed last December to receive direct investment from Japan Post to expand their cooperation.
Under an arrangement with Aflac, a new customer cannot be insured for three months after he or she purchases the insurance to prevent a person who has already developed cancer from receiving a payout.
The rule caused people switching to a new Aflac insurance policy from an old one to pay for both contracts or be left without coverage for three months.
Since 2014, Aflac eliminated the duplication of premium payments in a contract renewal, but Japan Post did not make the necessary upgrade to its computer system to reflect that change, the sources said.
“There have been far more new purchases of the insurance than switches of contracts,” resulting in a delay in the system upgrade, a Japan Post official said.
The number of policy switches has risen recently following the launch of a new Aflac policy, the sources said.
Source : https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/21/business/corporate-business
POSTAL NEWS
No 70 -2019
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and Logistics Sector
United we stand as arbitration continues. August 29, 2019.
Flight-based logistics taken a “big step forward,” says Yamato. August 28, 2019.
Royal Mail exceeds quality of service targets. August 27, 2019.
Australia Post’s future tied to ambitious sustainability commitments. August 26, 2019.
NZ Post price changes affecting competitors' profits.
August 26, 2019.
United we stand as arbitration continues
August 29, 2019
We know this arbitration process has been long and that the end doesn’t seem near, but as the members will have to live with the changes to the collective agreements for many years it is important for CUPW negotiators to thoroughly present all our evidence. They have interviewed countless witnesses to ensure the arbitrator is equipped with all of the facts. Canada Post is now presenting their case. When they have finished, our negotiators will have the opportunity to provide rebuttal evidence against all of Canada Post’s testimony and evidence.
The work your negotiators have done is not limited to the days spent at the bargaining table or in arbitration hearings. Your negotiating committees have spent days, weeks and months putting together the strongest case possible for arbitration.
We know you’re frustrated. We’re frustrated too. We all would have preferred a negotiated agreement through free collective bargaining. It is our right and we continue to ask Canada Post to meet us at the bargaining table as our negotiators truly believe they can come to an agreement.
Despite these frustrations, I am proud of all of our members for continuing to provide customers with the best and most professional services. Canadians love their public postal system because of you and the work you do does not go unnoticed.
In the meantime, we will not be quiet. We will push our issues during the federal election campaign and work together across the country to make sure worker-friendly candidates are elected.
We need new contracts. We need better health and safety measures. We need to be fairly compensated for the work we do. We need the Corporation to stop relying on overtime to meet delivery times. We need a government that will invest in the future of Canada Post and the future of its workers.
Our negotiators are doing their part in arbitration. Let’s do ours on the campaign trail.
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
Flight-based logistics taken a “big step forward,” says Yamato
August 28, 2019
An unmanned delivery drone jointly developed by Yamato Holdings Co. and Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. of the U.S. made its first successful flight in in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas this week.
Autonomous Pod Transport 70 was tested on Monday. The two companies hope to put the drone into service in Japan by the early 2020s, before taking it global.
During the test, the APT 70 took off vertically and cruised horizontally about 50 metres off the ground for a few minutes before setting down. Bell said the aircraft can travel at 160 kph and carry to 32 kg.
“Our team has created innovative solutions with the potential to change how the market approaches civilian logistics,” said Mitch Snyder, president and CEO, Bell. “Together, we will continue refining technologies to produce an efficient and agile vehicle that operates safely in the ecosystem.”
“Having the success of the demonstration today, we shall accelerate our technical and service development to enter our innovative service by the early-2020s,” said Yutaka Nagao, Yamato’s President who attended the test.
The test “marked the start of a new logistics business model,” he said.
The drone — with a body by Bell and a cargo pod by Yamato — is 2.7 meters wide, 1.8 meters tall and weighs about 160 kg. It has a range of 56 km and can operate in nearly the same weather conditions as aircraft, the companies said.
Source : https://postandparcel.info/113901/news/e-commerce
Royal Mail exceeds quality of service targets
August 27, 2019
Royal Mail’s latest Quality of Service report reveals that the company has exceeded its regulatory targets for First and Second Class mail for the first quarter of the financial year 2019-2020.
During the first quarter of the year leading up to June 30, 2019, Royal Mail delivered 93.2% of First Class mail the next working day against a target of 93.0%. The company delivered 98.9% of Second Class mail within three working days against a regulatory target of 98.5%.
Royal Mail is the only UK mail delivery company required to publish Quality of Service performance against delivery targets every quarter. It has one of the highest Quality of Service specifications of any major European country.
Paul O’Keefe, director of quality and customer, Royal Mail, said, “We are delighted to have exceeded both our First Class and Second Class Quality of Service regulatory targets for the first quarter of the financial year. Royal Mail has one of the highest Quality of Service specifications of any major European country and our postmen and women work extremely hard to deliver high standards of service to all our customers across the UK.”
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/operations
Australia Post’s future tied to ambitious sustainability commitments
August 26, 2019
Australia Post has announced a new three-year plan with 19 commitments that will create economic, social and environmental value for the Australian community.
As a sign of its action on those commitments, it has also announced that it will be launching a new range of recycled and recyclable plastic satchels, as it moves away from using virgin plastic and gives used plastic another life.
The first recycled plastic satchel will be launched with major customer Country Road this year in time for Christmas, with a transition across the business in early 2020.
Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Christine Holgate said Australia Post was building on its long, proud history of responsible citizenship.
“One of the things about sustainability and doing things like recycled packaging is for the people that work in your business. They want to work for organisations where they’ve got strong values,” Ms Holgate said.
Coming into effect last month, the new Plan is underpinned by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the world’s sustainability agenda for 2030.
Australia Post has charted its path with a suite of “2030 aspirations”, aligned to the SDGs it impacts the most, including achieving world-class safety metrics, gender equality across the business, and becoming a low-carbon logistics provider.
The Plan outlines Australia Post’s intent to put sustainability front and centre of all it does while also meeting increased customer demand for sustainable products, services and solutions.
“All of our big delivery facilities now use solar generation for electricity – we’re one of the biggest property owner and tenants – so it’s not about spending more, but spending wisely,” Ms Holgate said.
The commitments are grouped within three themes:
Everyone is included – creating vibrant, inclusive communities; and providing safe, fair and fulfilling work for our extended workforce
Everyone prospers – by delivering responsibly and profitably; and providing great customer experiences
Everyone thrives – by reducing our environmental impacts and facilitating a circular economy.
“The people of Australia expect us to do more – there’s a bigger expectation on an organisation that provides a community service to be leading in this type of work,” Ms Holgate said.
In recent months, Australia Post has won several awards for its corporate responsibility practices, including a global Corporate Register award for its integrated report outlining its financial, social and environmental performance.
Source : https://newsroom.auspost.com.au/article
NZ Post price changes affecting competitors' profits
August 26, 2019
Courier and data management company Freightways' profit has been held back by higher labour costs as competition hits its courier businesses.
Its net profit rose 2 percent to $63.4 million in the year to June, boosted by an insurance payout from earthquake-damaged structures.
Revenue rose 6 percent to $615.7m on the back of courier price increases.
Freightways brands include New Zealand Couriers and Post Haste Couriers.
Chief executive Mark Troughear said it had been caught by the slowing economy, forcing it to review pricing.
"The first half was characterised by solid organic growth, whereas same-customer volume flattened off noticeably in the second half of the year," he said.
"Some hard calls were also made on low margin business during the year, with pricing reviews for customers where margins were unacceptably low for the value provided through our networks.
"The results were pleasing for the year when these factors, alongside material contractor earnings and wage increases, were also taken into account."
Mr Troughear said its competitor, the state-owned New Zealand Post, was attacking its small postal business, DX Mail.
"[It] has come under direct attack from NZ Post's new zonal pricing structure for bulk mail, which effectively offers the cheapest rates to those areas that DX Mail delivers into, and more expensive rates to those areas where DX Mail does not deliver."
The Commerce Commission has launched a preliminary investigation into New Zealand Post's pricing changes, he said.
Source : https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/397534