Posti ready to accept dispute resolution task force

The Board of Directors of Posti Group Corporation on Monday decided that is was ready to approve the proposals of the dispute resolution task force related to the business transfer concerning employees working in parcel sorting in order to avoid deadlock in postal sector.

Posti, however, set some pre-conditions to accept the proposal, said a press release issued by national postal and logistic services operator Posti.

The pre-conditions are: the Service Sector Employers (Palta), Posti and the Finnish Post and Logistics Union (PAU) reach an understanding concerning the terms of the collective agreement between PAU and Palta and the sharing of distribution networks, and the business transfer to Posti Palvelut Oy carried out by Posti Ltd is not cancelled.

“In Posti’s view, the task force’s proposal was highly exceptional in that it sought to restrict the company’s right of association. Posti has sought changes to collective terms for parcel sorting, as both web stores and consumers expect continually increasing flexibility from us. However, with sympathy strikes escalating the situation, Posti considers it important and socially responsible that an agreement is achieved. The compromise proposal would not have eliminated Posti’s urgent need for reform in a highly competitive parcel market,” said Posti’s interim CEO Turkka Kuusisto.

According to the proposal, Posti Palvelut Oy, PAU, the Finnish Media Federation and the Industrial Union would have entered into a company-specific collective agreement for the parcel sorters of Posti Palvelut Oy, according to which the employment contracts would follow the PAU collective agreement.

As of November 1, 2019, parcel sorting employees have been subject to the Industrial Union’s collective agreement for delivery work. Posti Palvelut Oy, as an employer, is represented by the Finnish Media Federation.

The Finnish Postal and Logistics Union (PAU) has launched the strike across the country from November 11 morning and is scheduled to continue till December 8.

PAU’s strike has made mail delivery very difficult across Finland.

The reason for the strike is the employer’s decision to force some 700 Posti employees into another collective agreement.