CESI Post and Telecoms Trade Council discusses cross-border parcel deliveries

Resolutions were adopted on both topics and are available in the resources section.

In its resolution on the implementation of the new EU Regulation on cross-border parcel delivery services, the members of the Trade Council criticise in particular excessive emphases on parcel delivery costs reductions and the absence of any socio-political aspects in the new Regulation. “More competition in the sector worsens existing social problems. Cross-border parcel delivery services are not improved just by lower prices, but rather by an adequate quality of the service”, the resolution argues. In this context, the resolution calls on Member States to make use of flexibility clauses under the new Regulation to include additional reporting obligations by service providers that can effectively indicate and lead to tackle socially adverse conditions for workers in parcel delivery providers.

The resolution on worker-friendly demographic change in telecoms and postal service providers argues in particular against age-related dismissals for workers beyond the age of 50 and in favour of adequate pensions in the sector that can prevent old-age poverty and in favour of additional measures for health and safety at work so that workers can actually work healthily until they reach the statutory pension age.

The Trade Council meeting was also an opportunity for discussions about the situation in the different Member States with regards to employment challenges arising from privatisations, increasing parcel delivery market powers of companies like Amazon and the continuing decline in postal mail. The topic of social and employment impacts of digitalisation was also at the centre of the debate, based on a keynote address by Wilhelm Gloss of the Austrian FCG trade union.

The next meeting of the Trade Council will take place on December 7 in Brussels.

Picture: CESI’s Trade Council ‘Post & Telecoms’ © CESI 2018