The CTU Rūnanga is asking affiliates to support postal workers and get out and make submissions against contracting out postal delivery, to stop job cuts and ensure fair pay and conditions for postal workers.
The Postal Workers Union is fighting NZ Post’s plans to replace postal workers with contracted couriers. The union believes that this move will lead to slower deliveries and poorer working conditions for the couriers, who are used as a “third-class workforce”.
The union has highlighted that the shift to contractors would mean there would be no posties employed by NZ Post after the planned job cuts. It contends that this violates the State-Owned Enterprises Act, which requires NZ Post to provide good and fair working conditions, instead leaving contractors to determine workers’ pay and conditions.
About the consultation
The Crown is seeking feedback on proposed changes to NZ Post’s minimum obligations under the Postal Deed of Understanding.
The Postal Deed of Understanding (the Deed) is an agreement between NZ Post and the Crown which sets out the minimum mail service obligations that NZ Post must meet to provide a nationwide postal service.
The Crown is seeking feedback on proposed changes to NZ Post’s service obligations, as part of the 2024 Review of the Deed. Their reasoning is to enable a financially sustainable mail service that continues to meet the communication needs of New Zealanders.
The review does not consider fair pay and conditions for their postal workers or the fact that, once rural outlets are closed, much needed postal services will decline for rural communities.
They are seeking feedback on five key proposed changes
- Reducing minimum delivery frequency from:
- Minimum 3 days per week in urban areas, to 2 days per week.
- Minimum 5 days per week in rural areas, to 3 days per week.
- Reducing the minimum number of postal outlets from 880 to 500. Considering a glide down to a minimum of 400 over time.
- Providing for NZ Post to meets its requirement to extend its network in the form of delivering to cluster and community boxes for new addresses.
- Allowing NZ Post to convert existing delivery points into communal points at a rate of up to 5% per year.
- Instead of a 5-year period before the next Deed Review, suggesting the next Review be in 3 years.
How to make a submission:
Submission template: Recap of questions