In 2019, changes were made to sorting and delivery work and operating models on the basis of what was agreed with Postal Services personnel. The aim of the changes is for Posti to be able to provide services that better meet customers’ needs. At the same time, it was agreed that the effect on personnel would be assessed later. Postal Services will continue the cooperation negotiations that began in basic delivery in 2019.
Together with personnel, Postal Services will also look for solutions for day-to-day work on the basis of the flexibility measures that were agreed on during the autumn 2019 collective agreement negotiations. Customers’ needs are changing faster than before, and we now need solutions related to working hours, work rhythm and commuting areas. Our aim is to make the necessary changes without any dismissals.
“We will do everything we can as well as use various methods to ensure that there will not be any dismissals. There may be changes to working hours and places of work. These negotiations will last for at least six weeks, and we will know the results only after the negotiations have been completed. Our aim is to find - together with our personnel - solutions that will help soften the effect of the changes and ensure that the work continues to feel meaningful,” says Sami Reponen, Posti’s Director of Postal Services Production.
The negotiations, which will continue on January 29, concern basic delivery in the capital region and South-West Finland. The negotiations do not concern early-morning delivery, i.e. newspaper delivery.
Increasing machine sorting reduces the amount of manual sorting
The amount of manual sorting done by Posti personnel is still falling sharply. Machine sorting speeds up the process and takes care of the more physically demanding work stages. If items are sorted using a sorting machine, the items will already be sorted to the level of mail recipient addresses when the deliverer receives them and will not require any further sorting.
“These changes will not be noticeable to recipients, but they will make a difference for our large sending customers. We will be able to provide services in a more agile and cost-effective way as well as offer digital additional services and real-time information. Our sending customers are largely already able to track the status of their batch in our process,” says Reponen.
The need for part-time employees is growing as demand varies greatly according to the days of the week and the seasons
Different numbers of employees and working hours are needed on different days of the week in order to provide services in the way customers require them. Seasons also have a strong effect on demand. As in other service industries, the need for part-time employees is growing significantly.
“We will support our employees and do everything we can to combine part-time duties into jobs that can provide full-time hours if the employee wants to work full-time. Our personnel also has access to the Uusi polku program, which supports transitioning to working for another employer by offering personal solutions,” says Reponen.
