POSTAL NEWS
No 93-2020
Formulated by UNI AproPost and Logistics Sector
1. U.S. Postal Service announces leadership promotions and structural modifications. November 19, 2020.2. Agreement in principle collective labor agreement PostNL(2020 – 2022). November 18, 2020.
3. More than 12,000 DHL Packstations in Germany by 2023. November 17, 2020.
4. TNT Swiss Post GmbH opens new headquarters in Oftringen. November 17, 2020.5. Cargolux looking ‘very closely’ at 777-300ER freighter conversion. November 13, 2020. |
1. U.S. Postal Service announces leadership promotions and structural modifications
November 19, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today made several leadership announcements, including the retirement of a top executive, the promotion of several other key leaders, and a series of functional alignments that aim to better position the organization to achieve operational excellence and financial stability.
The changes include the announcement that David E. Williams, chief logistics and processing operations officer, intends to retire next year, capping a postal career that has spanned more than three decades.
“Dave Williams has been an outstanding leader within the Postal Service,” said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. “During his career with us, he has streamlined mail processing, delivery and operations. Dave has been a leader in driving the use of data and information to advance innovation and system improvements. We value his many contributions and thank him for his distinguished service. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to Dave for all of the assistance he provided to me both before and during my transition to the Postal Service.”
Williams joined the Postal Service as an industrial engineering trainee in 1987 and went on to work in several field, area and headquarters positions, including serving as chief operating officer from 2015-2020.
“The Postal Service has been my life for 33 years,” Williams said. “I love every aspect of this organization, its people and our collective mission to serve America. I will always be thankful to this organization for investing in me at the beginning of my career, and I will always take pride in the work I've done with my colleagues. I look forward to working with my successor and the rest of the team through this year’s peak delivery season to ensure a smooth transition into the new year.”
Other leadership appointments and structural modifications announced today include:
Isaac Cronkhite, who currently serves as chief human resources officer, will succeed Williams as chief logistics and processing operations officer. In this role, Cronkhite will oversee 135,000 career employees at more than 300 USPS facilities nationwide.
Doug Tulino, labor relations vice president, will become chief human resources officer. He’ll be responsible for the professional development of the Postal Service’s 644,000-member workforce and oversee labor relations, leadership and career development, compensation and benefits, and recruitment and hiring processes, among other responsibilities.
Katherine Attridge, collective bargaining and arbitration manager, will become labor relations vice president. She’ll help manage the Postal Service’s relationships with its labor unions and management associations, along with providing Equal Employment Opportunity services for USPS and other organizations.
Tom Foti, product management executive director, will become product solutions vice president and report to Steve Monteith, who will become chief customer and marketing officer after serving in the role on an acting basis since the summer.
In his new role, Foti will oversee Product Solutions, a newly formed organization that will oversee product management, pricing and classification services, product classification, new solutions, commercial acceptance and business acceptance solutions.
Marc McCrery, information
technology vice president, will become technology applications vice president,
and Bill Koetz, will serve as acting network and compute technology vice
president; both will report to Pritha Mehra, who will become chief information
officer after serving in the role on an acting basis since the summer.
The groups that McCrery and Koetz will respectively oversee — Technology
Applications and Network and Compute Technology — will be created by splitting
the Information Technology organizations.
Technology Applications will oversee the IT solution centers, enterprise data warehouse and commercial payments and systems, while the Network and Compute Technology group will be responsible for the Postal Service’s telecommunication technologies of digital networks and compute technologies of servers, software, cloud and data center operations.
As part of this change, the teams that make up the Mail Entry and Payment Technology group will be aligned with either Product Solutions or Technology Applications. Additionally, the Information Systems teams that support area and district offices will form a new organization, Enterprise Endpoint Technology.
Gary Reblin, product innovation vice president, will become innovative business technology vice president and report to Scott Bombaugh, who will become chief technology officer after serving in the role on an acting basis in the summer.
Innovative Business Technology, a newly formed organization, will oversee mailing services, digital business, product technology innovation, and mail and package information systems.
Linda Malone has been named engineering systems vice president after serving in the position in an acting basis since the summer. She will report to Bombaugh.
Simon Storey, employee resource
management vice president, will become human resources vice president, and
Jenny Utterback, human resources technology and innovation senior director,
will become organization development vice president. Both will report to Chief
Human Resources Officer Doug Tulino.
Human Resources will lead the planning and implementation of national human resource programs and policies in the areas of safety and injury compensation, health and medical services, hiring, staffing and retention, among other responsibilities.
Organization Development will be responsible for leading learning and development, compensation and benefits, human resources technology, talent acquisition and diversity, and employee engagement at the headquarters level. This organization will focus on developing programs, policies and processes that align with corporate and human resources strategic initiatives and work closely with the Human Resources and Labor Relations groups.
Jeff Adams has been named corporate communications vice president, a role he has served in an acting basis since the summer. In this role, Adams will oversee the Postal Service’s relationships with the news media, as well as employee communications, social media and other responsibilities.
These appointments help better align the Postal Service, and also demonstrate our commitment to career development of our own employees by building talent and promoting from within. Altogether, these announcements include 11 promotions, five new officers, two lateral moves and one detail assignment.
These organizational changes will not initiate a reduction-in-force. The hiring freeze, announced in August to facilitate employee reductions through natural attrition, remains in place.
Further organizational modifications are expected to continue in phased approaches during the next several months.
Source : https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2020
2. Agreement in principle collective labor agreement PostNL (2020 – 2022)
November 18, 2020
The BVPP (Bond van Post Personeel) and the CNV Public Services have reached an agreement in principle for a new collective labor agreement with PostNL after difficult but especially lengthy negotiations. We have reached an agreement in principle with PostNL, which we will present to our members with positive advice.
The new collective labor agreement has a term of 24 months, starting on April 1, 2020 until April 1, 2022. During this period, wages will increase structurally by 5½% and a one-off payment of 0.5% will be paid in December 2020. In addition, the result-related payment for the 2020 financial year is guaranteed. That is 2%. Employees also receive a one-off extra payment of € 250 net.
In view of the current situation in the corona crisis, this is a good result, especially if you compare itwith the collective labor agreements that have been concluded in the recent period.
In addition to wages, positive results have been achieved on the following points.
· A fixed home working allowance of € 45 net per month, for anyone who works from home at least 2 days a week (part-time or full-time).
· Employment: this is promoted by giving priority to employees of Mail NL on vacancies at Parcels and Logistics.
· Flexibility: PostNL will hire 300 more parcel deliverers until the end of 2022. 200 employees of Parcels and Logistics will receive an employment contract for an indefinite period. About 200 temporary workers can be employed in future-proof positions.
· The early retirement scheme (penalty-free period of the government) is applied to 300 employees in heavy professions, subject to payment of 80% of the minimum wage.
· Generation pact is again active, but in an improved version: in addition to 60% working with 80% remuneration (pension accrual 80%), there will be an option for 80% working with 90% remuneration (90% pension accrual). 75 places will be made available and after a joint evaluation with us another 75 places.
· The result-related payment is now based on targets that apply to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is pursuing its targets with the result that positive results also have an effect on employees in the form of a benefit. This change will apply from 2021 and because of this transition, the payment for 2020 has now been definitively set by PostNL at 2% and promised.
· Study agreements (employer and trade unions will further explore these topics together): 1. retraining to another position, 2. to team bonuses and 3. to the possibility for temporary workers to follow online training.
· Leave savings: the savings maximum goes from 50 to 100 weeks.
· Training: attention is paid to employability and management training includes the subject of employee participation and trade unions.
Members of the BVPP who fall under the PostNL collective labor agreement have received an email with a link to vote. An agreement in principle has also been reached for the collective labor agreement on Saturday deliverers PostNL. These members have also received an e-mail.
Source : https://www.bvpp.nl/sectors/overige/nieuws/2020-11-18-principeakkoord-cao-postnl-2020-2022
3. More than 12,000 DHL Packstations in Germany by 2023
November 17,2020
Bonn- Deutsche Post DHL will set up around 6,000 more Packstations for its customers by 2023. The company is thus doubling the number of machines from currently over 6,000 to around 12,000 packing stations. "More and more customers are using the Packstation and existing customers are using it more and more frequently. Especially during the Corona crisis, many new customers discovered the advantages of the Packstation for themselves, as they can send and receive their parcels contactlessly at any time," says Tobias Meyer, Board Member Post & Parcel Germany of the Deutsche Post DHL Group. "We also see a great deal of interest in setting up packing stations at their locations from our partners, for example from the retail trade, local public transport and real estate companies. Especially in cooperation with local transport companies, an environmentally friendly and traffic-relieving system of parcel delivery can be created. We are therefore looking forward to making this popular service even more widely available to a growing number of users in the future. "
Deutsche Post DHL will offer the free service at other locations both in the city and in the countryside. Already today, almost every second household in Germany can reach a packing station within a radius of one kilometer. Around 80 percent of households have a partner branch of Deutsche Post, a DHL parcel shop or a Packstation within this distance. With the future expansion, these distances will decrease further and the number of users will increase even further.
At the end of 2021, around 8,500 Packstations will be available to DHL customers, and a year later there will be around 10,500 Packstations with a total of over a million compartments. For 2023, the company expects further growth to at least 12,000 machines.
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Already today, almost every second household in Germany can reach a packing station within a radius of one kilometer. |
With immediate effect, Deutsche Post DHL is also setting up the purely app-controlled variant of the Packstation at around 200 locations. This new type of machine does not require a display because the customer only operates it with his smartphone. DHL customers will in future be able to use both types of machines - the classic packing station with screen and scanner and the app-controlled variant. "Since the beginning of the year we have intensively tested 20 app-controlled Packstations in Cologne and Koblenz and the feedback from customers has been very positive. Most Packstation customers are very familiar with using apps on their smartphones. We currently assume that of the 12,000 Packstations in 2023 are expected to be about every third app-controlled, "says Tobias Meyer. Most of these machines are equipped with solar cells on the roof, so that the new type of packing station can completely supply itself with renewable energies. "Since we no longer need an external power source, we can now set up the Packstation in places where this would not have been possible before. We will bring our service even closer to our customers and make it more climate-friendly," explains Tobias Meyer.
The rapid expansion of the packing station network is part of a multi-year digitization program that the Deutsche Post DHL Group presented in March of this year.
The company is investing in new digital services and substantial improvements to existing solutions in the mail and parcel area.
In 2003, DHL was the first company to introduce the Packstation Service on the German market. The number of machines has risen sharply, especially in recent years: at the end of 2014, only 2,800 Packstations were installed nationwide, at the end of 2019 there were around 4,400 machines. At the end of this year there will be 6,500 DHL Packstations - an increase of almost 50 percent compared to the previous year. The Packstation is particularly popular because it is easy to use and available around the clock for sending and receiving parcels.
In addition, it is often located in central places in daily life, so that customers can conveniently combine receiving and shipping parcels with, for example, going to work or shopping for groceries.
Source : https://www.dpdhl.com/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2020/
4. TNT Swiss Post GmbH opens new headquarters in Oftringen
November 17, 2020
TNT Swiss Post GmbH (TNT Swiss Post), the joint venture between TNT Express and Post CH AG, has opened a new headquarters and ground operations centre in Oftringen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Formerly based in Buchs AG, the new premises allow TNT Swiss Post to meet the growing demand in the express transportation industry.
Centrally located in Switzerland, the new headquarters are close to the intersection of three main highways, giving TNT Swiss Post fast access to all national and international routes.
The facility is over 23,500 sq m with sortation capacity of 4,500 pieces/hour (previously 1,500) and 350 employees. The new technology and facilities have tripled the sortation capacity.
In the 5,800 sq m warehouse, there is height adjustable sorting systems and platforms, automated pallet trails, and daylight friendly spaces improve the health and safety standards for the team members.
To improve its carbon footprint, TNT Swiss Post worked closely with the construction company to ensure environmentally friendly elements were implemented. The facility features a district heating system, roof greening for better insulation, and sound insulation made from recycled materials.
The current pandemic has slowed down economic activities, not only in Switzerland but globally. However, according to the Swiss e-commerce report 2020, e-commerce in Switzerland is predicted to grow between 22% and 30% in 2020 compared to 2019.
The demand for fast shipping solutions is increasing and the new premises allow for future expansions to meet customers’ demands.
Switzerland is an important market for the company. TNT Swiss Post, as part of the FedEx Express network, is offering a broad portfolio of time-definite express services including next-day-delivery to the US, delivery to over 50,000 postal code areas across Europe, and door-to-door shipping within Switzerland.
Source:https://www.ti-insight.com/
5. Cargolux looking ‘very closely’ at 777-300ER freighter conversion
November 13, 2020
Cargolux is examining the Boeing 777-300ER freighter conversion programme as a candidate to meet its future fleet requirements, according to the airline’s chief executive Richard Forson.
The European cargo operator – whose fleet of 30 747s were all line-built freighters – is considering two scenarios for future aircraft orders, Forson explained during a UK Aviation Club event this week: look to the big manufactures for freighter versions of newer-generation widebodies, or seek the conversion of older-generation passenger aircraft.
“The specific one we are looking very closely at is the conversion of the 777-300ER into a freighter, in which Gecas, together with IAI, are doing a programme,” he said.
The IAI conversion programme was unveiled in October last year by leasing giant Gecas, which placed a launch order for 15 firm conversions with 15 options and is co-investor in the effort. The conversion is designated 777-300ER special freighter (SF) and is the first aftermarket cargo modification launched for the 777 family.
“I’m keeping an eye on that and wondering if the whole freighter concept is now going full circle, where initially it started off as conversion of passenger aircraft and then it went into production freighters, and maybe are we getting back to a situation now where manufacturers are going to say the risk is too high,” Forson explained.
Indeed, neither Airbus or Boeing have committed to building freighter versions of two potentially viable aircraft types.
Forson expresses some doubt that the current orderbook for passenger 777X aircraft will be enough to convince Boeing’s board to launch a freighter variant of the widebody – particularly in light of reduced near-term demand as a result of the pandemic.
The delivery of hundreds of A350s “could potentially justify the development of a freighter” by Airbus, but the airframer is yet to announce such a programme, and Forson sayed he would need to “look at whether those products meet my requirements”.
Therefore, while Cargolux maintains “continuous dialogue” with the big manufacturers, the eventual fleet investment might not necessarily involve new-build jets.
“There’s a huge feedstock of 777-300ERs in the market that will also be looking for a home one day,” Forson stated.
For now, “what we’ve done as an airline is taken the necessary steps to ensure the longevity of our 747 fleet as long as possible”, Forson said. “Besides the Antonov [An-124], which is a niche aircraft, there is not a comparable aircraft with the capabilities of the 747, especially in terms of the movement of outsize shipments.”
Eventually, he acknowledges, Cargolux “will have a mix in its fleet of the 747 and then a twin-engine freighter, which will bring complexity into our operations, which we do not have at this point in time”.
That is regrettable, Forson explained, because “having a single type in your fleet is of huge advantage”.
Cargolux’s fleet currently features 14 747-8Fs, 11 747-400Fs, and five 747-400ERFs.
When production of the 747 ceases in 2022, “a significant capability will be lost to the logistics market”, Forson said. “I don’t ever see another four-engined freighter being developed by any manufacturer.”
Source : https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines
POSTAL NEWS
No 94-2020
Formulated by UNI AproPost and Logistics Sector
1. UPS opens largest sorting and delivery facility in Canada.November 19, 2020.2. Canada Post introduces Indigenous and Northern Reconciliation Strategy. November 17, 2020.
3. Poste Italiane signs a preliminary agreement for the possible acquisition of Nexive. November 16, 2020.4. DHL must take “responsibility” during pandemic and adopt real sick and self-isolation pay scheme for workers, says CWU.November 16, 2020.5. PHLPost: Ready to fulfil its duty. November 13, 2020. |
1. UPS opens largest sorting and delivery facility in Canada
November 19, 2020
UPS Canada has opened its largest package sorting and delivery facility in Caledon, Ontario. The new 850,000ft2 hub has begun operations in anticipation of the annual increase in volume that will start around Cyber Week (November 30) and continue through January 2021.
Part of a C$500m (US$381m) Canadian investment plan announced in 2018, the new facility features advanced scanning and sortation technology, integrated with data-driven tools to increase efficiency and reliability for UPS’s customers in one of the fastest growing provinces in Canada.
“This year has not been without its challenges and we want to make sure we do our part to reduce the stress of the coming holidays as much as possible for all Canadians,” said Dominic Porporino, president of UPS Canada.
“We anticipate a record-breaking holiday season, but this new hub – our flagship facility – and the dedicated people that operate it, are ready to serve Canadians when they need it the most. It is a testament to our company’s purpose of keeping the world moving forward by delivering what matters.”
Earlier this year, UPS also opened a 180,000ft2 expansion at its Montreal facility. In November 2018, the company unveiled a new facility in Kanata, Ontario, and has expanded its package centers in Brampton and London, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta. UPS notes that it expects to hire over 100,000 seasonal employees globally. In Canada, more than 5,000 new employees will be hired to provide additional support.
Source : https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/operations
2. Canada Post introduces Indigenous and Northern Reconciliation Strategy
November 17, 2020
OTTAWA – Canada Post today announced a strategy to renew its long-standing relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit people and Northern communities.
"I’m extremely proud that Canada Post is moving forward with its Indigenous and Northern Reconciliation Strategy,” says Doug Ettinger, Canada Post President and CEO. “It commits us to taking concrete action to renew our long-standing relationship with Indigenous and Northern communities."
The Strategy reflects Canada Post’s commitment to undertake shared partnerships with Indigenous People and Northern communities and to make real, sustained progress throughout Canada. The Strategy has four key pillars:
1. Improve postal services to Indigenous and Northern communities. Canada Post will strengthen its retail network in Indigenous and Northern communities. The tailored approach allows for some communities to see new full-service post offices, while others will see existing services improved. Options include centralized delivery such as parcel lockers and improved access to financial, remittance and government services. Improved service will foster local economic activity and provide greater access to the e-commerce economy.
2. Develop and implement an Indigenous Procurement Policy. With a new policy now in development and expected to take effect in the second quarter of 2021, Canada Post will redefine its business relationship with Indigenous-owned companies based on trust, economic reconciliation and good business sense. The redefined relationship also extends to Canada Post’s current Canadian suppliers to ensure they engage more with Indigenous communities. That could take the form of partnerships; Indigenous workforce apprenticeships, training, or development; and subcontracting.
3. Improve Indigenous employment and retention. In partnership with its unions and Indigenous Peoples, Canada Post will work on improving Indigenous recruitment and retention in every employee classification, integrating Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and best practises. Improving Indigenous representation in Canada Post’s workforce to reflect the country and the communities it serves should lead to better outcomes for, and relationships with, Indigenous communities.
4. Support the viability, wellness and safety of Indigenous communities. In collaboration with community leaders and local Indigenous law enforcement, Canada Post will expand and strengthen its efforts to serve Indigenous and Northern communities safely. This includes working to reduce the non-mailable matter, such as alcohol and illicit drugs, that enter these communities.
"Canada Post is a trusted network of people committed to serving every community," added Ettinger. “How we serve, how we operate and how we make decisions can all have a profound impact across the country."
Source : https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/corporate-news/news-release
3. Poste Italiane signs a preliminary agreement for the possible acquisition of Nexive
November 16, 2020
Poste Italiane S.p.A. (“Poste Italiane”)signed late yesterday evening, following resolutions taken by its Board of Directors, a preliminary agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Dutch company “PostNL European Mail Holdings B.V.” (“PostNL”) and the German company “Mutares Holding – 32 GmbH” (“Mutares Holding”) for the acquisition by Poste Italiane of the entire capital of “Nexive Group S.r.l.” (“Nexive”).
Nexive is a postal operator in Italy with an approximate 12% market share in the mail market, with annual volumes of approximately 350 million items (of which 5% registered mail) and a 1% market share in parcels (approximately 8 million items delivered in 2019).
Nexive’s 2019 pro-forma revenues were approximately €200 million with 1,300 employees and over 5,000 operators from partner companies.
The acquisition would enable Poste Italiane to leverage on potential scale economies resulting from the consolidation of Nexive’s, further improving service levels for customers of both companies.
With regards to the transaction, the enterprise value for Nexive has been agreed by the parties at €60 million, whilst the final price will be determined on completion of the due diligence process.
The final terms and conditions of the agreement will be disclosed to the public as soon as they are defined. Subject to fulfilment of the relevant conditions, the closing date is expected by the end of January 2021.
The transaction falls under art. 75 of the August 14, 2020 Legislative Decree n. 104 (converted into Law 126 on October 13, 2020) that provides that certain concentrations are considered authorised with prior notification to AGCM of measures to prevent the risk of levying prices or other contractual conditions that would be burdensome for final users as a consequence of the concentration. As per the above mentioned law, the AGCM, no later than 30 days from the notification could prescribe further measures to those proposed by Poste Italiane also taking into account the overall sustainability of the concentration.
From a strategic point of view and in line with experiences of other European countries, the structural decline in mail volumes, further exacerbated by the impact and restrictions due to the health emergency, makes consolidation in mail and related logistics infrastructures a priority to ensure sustainability, employment level and accessibility to customers.
The transaction would contribute to the sustainability of the postal sector to the benefit of shareholders, sector employees, citizens, corporations, the public administration and thecountry as a whole.
Source : https://www.posteitaliane.it/files/1476528314934
4. DHL must take “responsibility” during pandemic and adopt real sick and self-isolation pay scheme for workers, says CWU
November 16, 2020
The CWU is calling on DHL Parcels UK – one of the wealthiest logistics companies in the world – to:
♦ Pay their employees sick pay if they, or a household member, or person in their social bubble displays Covid-19 symptoms.
♦ Manage any Covid-19 related absence outside of their sickness absence policy, as employees do not have a choice over self-isolation.
DHL Parcels response to the coronavirus pandemic is shameful. They have continued to maximise profits, because of increased demand, while placing their own key workers in financial hardship.
DHL has been vigilant in reminding employees of their obligations if they test positive, or are contacted by NHS Test & Trace, in order to protect themselves from any potential Government fines and to hide behind public health guidance; but self-isolation is an essential part of helping to tackle the virus, and DHL cannot expect their workers to pay the price for recovery.
Nobody should be forced to choose between self-isolating for the common good, or feeding their families and paying bills.
If DHL claims are true that they want to “make a positive contribution to society and the environment” then they must help support their workers through these difficult times.
Businesses don’t operate in vacuums – they are at the heart of communities, and any actions they fail to take will impact the rates of infection in the areas where they arelocated.
There can be no going back to business as usual, as many parts of the UK are in regional lockdowns, with England now being placed in full lockdown for the next month, in order to try and tackle the spread of this deadly virus.
That is why the CWU is calling on DHL to act responsibly, in order to keep their workers and the wider community safe.
Source : https://www.cwu.org/dhl-sick-pay-petition
5. PHLPost: Ready to fulfil its duty
November 13, 2020
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) is ready to facilitate mail voting for Senior Citizens, PWD, Indigenous People and Pregnant Women for the coming 2022 national elections, if required.
Chairman Norman Fulgencio said that “If this will be implemented, PHLPost will be ready to work on it.
We only want to make sure that the names in the list of voters who will avail of mail voting will be certified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and attested by the chairman of the barangay that the person voting is alive and a genuine resident in their barangay.
Fulgencio added that safeguards must be put in place to maintain integrity. The PHLPost position is to be more transparent in all these undertakings. That is one of the main reasons for our current efforts of digitizing the whole organization.
PHLPost in the past has successfully implemented the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) in the national elections by mail from sending out election paraphernalia to embassies and consulates abroad and receiving the ballots under the supervision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Source : https://postandparcel.info/128923/news/post