Australia Post has announced it will be undertaking a voluntary redundancy program in an attempt to tackle losses incurred by declining letter volumes.
The post has recently unveiled two new major developments in the form of superstores at Craigieburn and Broome, however these developments are designed to support the company’s more profitable parcel businesses.
Bob Chizzoniti, director of the Post Office Agents Association Limited (POAAL), released a statement saying that the move had been a knee-jerk reaction by management.
“Major postal corporations across Western Europe are facing the same challenges as Australia Post but responded much quicker and earlier,” he said.
“Australia Post has failed to act decisively in response to falling letter volumes and now, faced with massive losses, it’s making panicky decisions. Senior management has sleepwalked its way into a crisis and is now only making reactionary short-term fixes.
“Australia Post is paying the price for poor some might say non-existent network planning.”
“We are disappointed that Australia Post has waited until losses in letters were so large before acting. POAAL had preliminary discussions with Australia Post some years ago to discuss possible reforms to the letters business, but Australia Post management had their fingers in their ears.
“POAAL had sought a managed transition, where the entire Australia Post business would be able to transform before the losses in letters reached a critical point.”
June 30, 2015