Turnbull and Australia Post Must Rule Out Service Cuts
Malcolm Turnbull and Australia Post’s CEO Ahmed Fahour must immediately rule out any cuts to daily mail services, the National Office of the Communication Workers said today.
Following media reports that Australia Post was considering a move to a three day a week mail service, Assistant National Secretary Martin O’Nea said the union was calling on Minister Turnbull and Ahmed Fahour to publicly commit to keeping daily mail services.
“Reports that Post has been conducting market research on a three day mail service are a clear sign that it is being actively considered,” Mr O’Nea said
“Despite the CEO’s denials, it is clear that if they weren’t considering it then they wouldn’t have commissioned the market research.”
“The move to reducing existing services is a knee jerk reaction to the declining mail volumes. It must be remembered that the decline is a gradual one and volumes are not falling off the edge of a cliff.
“Any reduction in services will, however, inevitably lead to steeper declines.
“With the rapid growth in online shopping the current delivery losses will be reduced over time with posties delivering all parcels under 2kg - which make up over 60% of all parcels handled by Post.
“If the CEO is unable to support current services to the people of Australia then he should step aside and make way for somebody who is up to the challenge,” said Mr O’Nea.
The CWU has made a submission to the Commission of Audit that sets out a plan to secure Australia Post’s long term viability by capturing the growth in parcel delivery and offering new and innovative services such as banking, insurance and communication services. This has worked extremely well overseas and countries such as France, Italy, Switzerland and New Zealand. We believe this would enable all existing services to be maintained.
