Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Government increases the income limit of disabled dependents for family pension
Key Highlights:
- Increase
in income limit of Children/Siblings suffering from mental or physical
disability for family pension
- Increase
from present eligibility income of Rs. 9,000/- per month from sources
other than family pension, along with dearness relief
Ministry of Defence, Government of India has taken a decision
to enhance the income criteria for grant of family pension to children/siblings
suffering from mental or physical disability. Accordingly, such child/sibling
shall be eligible for family pension for life, if his/her overall income from
sources other than family pension remains less than the entitled family pension
at ordinary rate i.e 30% of the last pay drawn by the deceased government
servant/pensioner concerned plus the dearness relief admissible thereon.
The financial benefit in such cases shall accrue with effect
from 08.02.2021. Presently, the disabled child/sibling is eligible for family
pension if overall monthly income of disabled child/sibling from sources other
than family pension is not more than Rs. 9,000/- along with dearness relief
thereon.
Source : PIB
UNI Apro Post & Logistics - POSTAL NEWS
1 POSTAL NEWS
No 75-2021 Formulated by UNI Apro
Post and Logistics Sector
1.FedEx Express : Making critical
connections around the globe. September 24 2021.
2.Trading update five months to
August 2021. September 23, 2021.
3.Negotiations Update: APWU and
USPS “Stop the Clock” to continue bargaining for a new contract. September 21,
2021.
4.bpost evolving into the
preferred support partner for online stores with growth potential. September
20, 2021.
5.Deutsche Post improves its
parcel locker customer experience. September 19, 2021.
1.FedEx Express: Making critical
connections around the globe September 24 2021 FedEx Express has delivered a
shipment of COVID-19 vaccines and test kits on September 23 from Hungary to
Vietnam on behalf of PATH, a global healthcare non-profit organization. FedEx
donated the shipping of these critical items to support the fight to end the
pandemic. A shipment of 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and 100,000 pieces
of antigen test kits onboard a FedEx aircraft were transported from Budapest,
Hungary to Hanoi, Vietnam. FedEx used its healthcare solutions and expertise to
protect the integrity and security of this time-and temperature-sensitive
shipment throughout the journey. “Making critical connections around the globe
and delivering strength to communities where our teams and customers live and
work is what we do and who we are. In these times of need, we are committed to
delivering these lifesaving vaccines to move the world forward. Since the beginning
of 2020, FedEx has transported more than 13,800 humanitarian aid shipments
globally toward COVID-19 relief efforts,” said Kawal Preet, president, Asia
Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, FedEx Express, “We will continue to use
our vast network for as long as it takes to assist with COVID-19 efforts around
the world. “We are grateful to support this vaccine shipment to assist in the
country’s recovery, and deliver much needed hope to Vietnam.” said Hardy Diec,
managing director, Operations, FedEx Express Indochina. “We are proud of our
world-class team of healthcare experts who are working hard to ensure that
these critical vaccines are delivered quickly and safely to Vietnam.
” Source : https://postandparcel.info/142193/news/e-commerce/
2.Trading update five months to
August 2021 September 23, 2021 Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, for FY2021-22 we committed to providing bi-monthly updates on volume
and revenue performance. Performance for the five months to August and the two
months of July and August combined is detailed below. Keith Williams, Chair,
commented: “The first five months saw continued revenue growth across the
Group, with both Royal Mail and GLS reporting higher revenues than the prior
year.” “In Royal Mail, we are increasingly confident that domestic parcels are
re-basing at a significantly higher level than pre-COVID and believe we are
maintaining our share of the market. Domestic parcel volumes are up around a
third compared to pre-COVID. Domestic parcels performance continues to be more
robust against ongoing challenges in international. Whilst we continue to
expect further normalisation of parcel performance as we unwind from the
pandemic and anticipate some upward pressure on costs, both adjusted operating
profit and margin are expected to be higher in H2 compared to H1 “GLS continues
to deliver good volume and revenue growth, both year on year and against 2019.
Whilst we are seeing upward pressure on costs in a number of our markets, we
maintain our outlook for the full year of low single digit % revenue growth and
c. 8% operating margin.
Year to date performance- five
months to august 2021 Group
• Revenue: Grew by 8.2% year on
year and by 17.7% compared to the same period in 2019; Royal Mail
• Revenue: Increased by 7.2% year
on year and by 12.1% vs. the same period in 2019;
• Domestic parcel revenue: Grew
by 4.1% year on year and by 44.5% the same period in 2019;
• Domestic parcel volume: Decreased
by 5% year on year, but grew 34% vs. the same period in 2019;
• Total parcel revenue: Grew by
0.1% year on year and by 33.3% the same period in 2019;
• Total parcel volumes: Decreased
by 12% year on year but grew by 18% vs. same period in 2019;
• Total letter revenue: Increased
by 18.3% year on year and declined by 7.3% the same period in 2019.
• Addressed letter volumes
(excluding elections): Increased by 13% year on year and declined by 19% the
same period in 2019;
GLS
• Revenue: Increased 9.3% year on
year and by 30.5% vs. the same period in 2019.
• Volume: Increased by 9% year on
year and by 30% vs. the same period in 2019.
Royal Mail Domestic parcel
volumes increased by 34% compared to pre-COVID levels (April to August 2019),
broadly similar to the trend seen in Q1. Reflecting the removal of lockdown
restrictions during the summer, domestic volumes decreased by 5% compared to
the same period last year, which included the first lockdown and closure of
non-essential retail. Total parcel volume declined by 12% year on year in the
five months to August, a result of reduced volumes in international which has
been impacted by a number of factors previously outlined, including increased
customs processing and reduced air freight capacity. Enhanced customs clearance
capabilities, which come into effect in the second half of the year, and a
focus on driving additional import volumes is targeted to support an improved
outlook for international in H2 vs H1. Domestic parcel revenue grew by 44.5%
compared to the five months to August 2019, due to volume growth and positive
price/mix. Total parcel revenue grew by a third, reflecting our performance in
international, which we believe is in line with market changes. Year on year
domestic parcel revenue grew by 4.1%, with total parcel revenue broadly flat.
Addressed letter volumes (excluding elections) were down 19% compared to two
years ago, reflecting the ongoing structural decline in letters. Year on year
volumes grew by 13%, given the sharp declines seen at the start of the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020. Total letter revenue grew by 18.3% year on year, reflecting
volume growth and positive price/mix. We are working closely with the CWU on
deployment of our agreement and with the revisions activity progressing broadly
to plan. We anticipate this will be completed by the end of October. From
November, our focus will shift to securing the benefits, the significant
majority of which are targeted to be delivered in the second half.
GLS GLS delivered good volume and
revenue growth, both year on year and vs. 2019. Volume growth slowed during the
period as a result of lapping strong volumes seen during the first COVID-19
lockdown in 2020 and the easing of restrictions in a number of countries over
the summer. We continue to see the share of B2B increasing due to recovering
B2B volumes, combined with slowing B2C volume growth compared to last year.
Revenue growth was 9.3% (13.6% growth in €) year on year and 30.5% (34.8%
growth in €1 ) compared to 2019. Reported revenue growth was impacted by the
strengthening of Sterling.
Royal Mail Due to seasonality
July and August are typically lower volume periods of the year. Domestic parcel
volumes increased by 32% vs. July and August 2019, but fell by 3% year on year,
an improvement on the 7% year on year decline seen in Q1. Total parcel volumes
in the two months of July and August increased by 17% vs. the same months in
2019, but fell by 9% year on year, again an improvement on Q1 this year. Total
parcel revenues grew by 29.0% vs. July and August 2019. Year on year revenues
decreased by 4.6%, primarily due to lower volumes and changing product and
channel mix, with volumes in higher value export and consumer channels a
smaller proportion of total volume. Addressed letter volumes (excluding
elections) in July and August were down 20% compared to two years ago. Year on
year volumes increased by 2%, with total letter revenue up 7.7% reflecting
positive price/mix. Royal Mail revenue increased by 0.2% in July and August
year on year, and by 10.1% over two years. GLS Volume growth in July and August
was 7% year on year, or 23% compared to 2019. Revenue growth was 4.5% (10.6%
growth in €) year on year and 21.5% (29.2% growth in €1 ) compared to July and
August 2019. Underlying revenue growth in Euro terms was driven by higher
volumes and better pricing. Reported revenue growth was impacted by the
strengthening of Sterling. Outlook The future evolution of the COVID-19
pandemic, including levels of transmission, consumer behaviour and economic
factors such as GDP growth and inflation will influence future performance. As
previously stated, there is still significant short-term uncertainty as we
unwind from the impacts of the pandemic and we continue to expect
month-on-month fluctuations in parcel volumes during 2021-22. Group adjusted
operating profit for the first half of 2021-22 is expected to be £395 to £400
million, with at least £230 million from Royal Mail. In Royal Mail, despite
some anticipated upward pressure on costs, both adjusted operating profit and
margin are expected to be higher in H2 compared to H1, due to the significant
majority of the benefits of our CWU agreement targeted to be delivered in H2,
along with our non-staff cost reduction programme. This is in line with the
more usual phasing of profit towards the second half, as in previous years In
GLS, whilst we also are seeing upward pressure on costs in a number of our
markets due to tighter labour markets and more general inflationary pressures,
we expect these can be absorbed within our existing guidance for the full year
and maintain our outlook of low single digit % revenue growth and c. 8%
operating margin. Source : https://www.royalmailgroup.com/en/press-centre/press-releases/royal-mail-group
3.Negotiations Update: APWU and
USPS “Stop the Clock” to continue bargaining for a new contract September 21,
2021 The collective bargaining agreement (union contract) between the American
Postal Workers Union and the United States Postal Service covers the wages,
hours and working conditions of 200,000 postal workers. Our current contract
was due to expire at midnight, September 20, 2021. Over the last two weeks, the
APWU and postal management have engaged in frequent negotiating sessions at both
the “main table,” the “craft tables,” and in other committees. There has been
modest progress on a number of issues affecting all our crafts, including on
job security. There has also been a narrowing of the differences on important
items including the economic package. However, the union and management have
been unable to secure a negotiated agreement by midnight September 20. The APWU
National Negotiating Committee (NNC) had two choices: Either start the process
of mediation heading to interest arbitration, or with mutual agreement with
postal management, “stop the clock” (meaning the contract does not expire at
midnight) and continue negotiations for a period of time. It is the unanimous
decision of the National Negotiating Committee to “stop the clock” and continue
bargaining. It is also the position of the NNC that we will reevaluate progress
on a regular basis and invoke mediation if further negotiations are not
productive. “The entire APWU negotiating team is working together and working
hard to secure the new contract that our members have earned and deserve,” said
APWU Chief Spokesperson Vance Zimmerman. “Continued negotiations for a short
period of time are in the best interests of the members.” “The APWU is leaving
no stone unturned. Based on progress thus far we have the possibility of
reaching a negotiated union contract,” declared President and Lead Negotiator
Mark Dimondstein. “It is vital we all stay union strong and union proud in our
collective quest for workplace justice.”
Source : https://apwu.org/news
4.bpost evolving into the
preferred support partner for online stores with growth potential September 20,
2021 Strong growth in supply and demand in e-commerce last year. 42% of
currently operating Belgian online stores opened in 2020, which corresponds to
around 52 new openings a day (versus 14 in 2019)*. bpost helped 1400 local
retailers take their first steps in e-commerce with
elkezaakonline.be/touslesmagasinsenligne.be, which launched in June 2020. The
platform shifts up a gear this month as it rolls out a wider, more personalized
range of services to small and mid-sized enterprises that already have an
online store or are thinking about opening one. The pandemic has seen the
people of Belgium adopt online shopping in huge numbers. bpost delivered more
than 700,000 parcels on the busiest days during the end-of-year period
2020-2021. And e-commerce continues to grow. Local small and mid-sized
enterprises are perfectly placed to reap the benefits through their own
e-commerce activities. bpost aims to provide even greater support to help them
do just that.
Since the launch of
elkezaakonline.be/touslesmagasinsenligne.be in June 2020, bpost has helped 1400
local retailers take their first steps in e-commerce.A recent study** revealed
that 83% of current users of the platform are satisfied or very satisfied. That
said, bpost identifies huge potential for higher digital sales at most online
stores. Users say that a lack of time is the main obstacle to a more professional
website. Additionally, 65% of SMEs with an online store or plans to open one
say they don’t have all the online marketing tools they need to attract new
customers. More than half of the respondents (53%) say they could use more
digital marketing advice. From interesting content… bpost aims to capitalize by
upgrading its elkezaakonline.be/touslesmagasinsenligne.be services. The
platform was originally focused on providing technical and content support to
enable SMEs to take their first steps in launching an online store. Many more
services are now being added, both for start-ups and for businesses that
already have an online store. First and foremost, the
elkezaakonline.be/touslesmagasinsenligne.be platform presents lots of
interesting content providing support, knowledge and inspiration to retailers
on topics they are concerned about. Those include how to set up an online
store, which sales channels to choose, SEO advice, online marketing, how to
optimize shipments and returns, what consumers expect in terms of parcel
delivery and much more. Additionally, bpost has developed a program of free
monthly practical webinars, each specially designed to give retailers all the
information they need to tackle the most common challenges.
… to personal advice
Each retailer can also book a
free one-hour session to get personalized advice from an e_commerce expert.
They analyse the existing online shop together and the expert listens to the
specific challenges and difficulties. Based on the interview, the expert draws
up a plan to take the online store to the next level. This personalized
approach is highly appreciated by the users.
Source : https://press.bpost.be/
5.Deutsche Post improves
its parcel locker customer experience
September 19, 2021 Deutsche Post
DHL is improving the customer experience for its Packstation parcel lockers.
Until now, customers needed a DHL customer card to collect parcels from
Packstations. Now, Deutsche Post DHL has introduced a new, scannable pick-up
code will via its app for collecting parcels at Packstations. The individually
generated pick-up code is time-limited and device-specific. How it works To
collect a parcel from the parcel locker, customers scan the pick-up code at the
locker and the relevant locker door opens.
The new pick-up code is
regenerated at short intervals in the Post & DHL app. This is almost
bank-level security… is it overkill? Or do German consumers appreciate the
extra level of security when it comes to out-of-home parcel delivery? The new
service only applies to customers who have their shipments addressed directly
to a Packstation. Failed first-time deliveries for residential addresses that
are rerouted to a parcel locker for collection can still be picked up from the
Packstation using the notification card. The future for packstation delivery
Deutsche Post DHL Group currently has over 7,500 Packstations across Germany,
with the network to be expanded to 12,500 parcel lockers by the end of 2023.
All services relating to sending and receiving parcels are to be integrated
into the Post & DHL app. In the future, Deutsche Post DHL will also be
installing more of the new generation of Packstation parcel lockers which don’t
have a display. The new machines supply themselves with environmentally
friendly solar energy and are purely app_controlled.
Source :
http://www.thepostalhub.com/blog
POSTAL NEWS No 76-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and
Logistics Sector
1. PMG discusses future at NPF.
September 24, 2021.
2. Postal services: As of April
1, 2022, mail will be delivered in a reduced volumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
September 23, 2021.
3. How Australia Post brought its
focus to sustainability. September 22, 2021.
4. Couriers Please forecasts 30
per cent growth for December quarter. September 21, 2021.
5. We are not fooled, Mr.
O’Toole. September 18, 2021.
1.PMG discusses future at NPF
September 24, 2021 He touted several of the Delivering for America initiatives
that are currently underway, including strengthening the workforce, adding
package processing equipment, investing in information processing, rolling out
new delivery vehicles and piloting USPS Connect Local.
“Everybody’s excited to move
forward with these transformative changes,” DeJoy said. The Postmaster General
also signaled that he expects Congress to act on postal reform legislation this
fall.
“This is a process and I’m
impressed with how the process is moving. I really believe the Congress wants
to get it passed,” he said. The conference was held Sept. 20-22. Other sessions
focused on direct mail, data tracking, professional development and mail
operations. The National Postal Forum, or NPF, is a not-for-profit educational
corporation founded in 1968 to ensure open lines of communication between USPS
and business customers.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
2.Postal services: As of April 1,
2022, mail will be delivered in a reduced volumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
September 23, 2021 The volume of printed mail continues to fall, and the needs
and requirements of mail_sending companies and institutions are becoming
differentiated. As a response to the change, we are developing our delivery
services together with our customers. One way is to concentrate mail delivery
on to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with lightened deliveries made on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The current Light Friday delivery will be changed to a
Light Thursday delivery from April 1, 2022 onward. Nowadays, a household
receives approximately 3.5 addressed items per week. In the 2000s, the volume
of letters has fallen by over 60% because of digital communications. In
addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced the volume of letters
especially. In addition to the development of mail volumes, Posti’s delivery
services take into account the needs of mail-sending customers e.g., needs in
different parts of Finland and within urban areas as well as sparsely populated
areas. By varying the rhythm of delivery according to the volume of mail on
weekdays is an important tool that enables us to ensure the continuity of
postal services for citizens and businesses throughout the country. The change
in reduced mail volumes from Friday to Thursday does not result to the need to
reduce personnel. We will deliver newspapers in Posti’s early-morning delivery
seven days a week. Other mail will be delivered on five weekdays. With regard
of universal service, delivery takes place in accordance with the Postal Act.
The change will not affect the mail delivery speed. Posti's service points and
customer service will be open as usual, and the change will not affect parcel
deliveries.
We will switch to lightened
Thursday deliveries in April 2022.
We will tell mail recipients more
closer to the date. Until April 2022, we will continue to deliver mail in a
reduced capacity on Tuesdays and Fridays. Delivered on Tuesdays and
Thursdays: § Newspapers in early-morning delivery § Newspapers
in daytime delivery § Letters and postcards with a Plus Sticker § Express
letters § Parcels § Laboratory items § Items sent
to a corporate postal code, corporate addresses, and P.O. Box Delivered on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: All products, including the above
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2021
3.How Australia Post brought
its focus to sustainability September 22, 2021
We sat down for a conversation
with Susan Mizrahi, Australia Post’s chief sustainability officer, about how
one of Australia’s most trusted brands approaches sustainability. After
spending four years as head of corporate responsibility for Australia Post,
Susan Mizrahi became the business’s chief sustainability officer in 2019It was
a role first established under the leadership of Christine Holgate and Nicole
Sheffield, who worked to elevate the business’s sustainability credentials by
bringing together the corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability
teams. Since Mizrahi took on the job, Australia Post has released its first
Group Corporate Responsibility Plan, shifted to 100 per cent recyclable packing
and created a carbon neutral deliveries program. It currently has over 3,000
electric delivery vehicles on the road. We caught up with Mizrahi to discuss
what the last couple of years have been like for her and her team, what
sustainability looks like for Australia Post moving forward, and how they’re
approaching the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
What is Australia Post’s
approach to being a sustainable business?
We’re taking a holistic and very
deliberate, strategic approach to sustainability. In 2016 we were one of the
first Australian companies to embrace the SDGs, and they’ve acted as our north
star. They’ve both underpinned and helped frame our approach to sustainability,
and corporate responsibility, in recent years. In 2020, we released our first
Group Corporate Responsibility Plan, which covers off the social, environmental
and governance dimensions [of the business] to ensure that we’re profiting
responsibly. It was the first public facing plan specifically related to our
targets and our approach to sustainability that we’d ever laid out, and it held
us to account both internally and externally. It laid the foundation for how we
were going to drive value creation both socially and environmentally and how we
would practice good governance, as a corporation. We’re now two years into that
plan and we’ve achieved a number of milestones.
Tell me a bit about those
milestones…
One hundred per cent of our
packaging is now recyclable and the vast majority of that is made with recycled
content – we will be 100 per cent on both fronts by the end of this year,
delivering on a pledge we made at the Australian Plastics Summit last year. We
have offset 124 million parcels through our carbon neutral deliveries program
with Qantas Future Planet. We’ve published a series of white papers to help
support our customers, suppliers and partners to address the SDGs. The latest
being a small business sustainability white paper, in partnership with the
Banksia Foundation, that provides our small business partners and customers
with a roadmap of how they can grow their business sustainably. We’ve published
our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan, and achieved our enterprise target of 3
per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. And we’re one of
Australia’s first 13 companies to set a validated science based target, which
is to address our scope one, two and three emissions. Australia Post also has
Australia’s largest electric fleet for last mile delivery with over 3,000
electric delivery vehicles on the road, and we’re about to launch 20 new Fuso
eCantor electric trucks into the Australian market — the first time those
trucks are being used in Australia.
It sounds as if the work
you’re doing in the SDG space is going very well. With so many businesses
reported to be playing catch up with the SDGs, what’s Australia Post doing
differently?
We’ve taken a really robust
approach to the SDGs. Being a government business enterprise, our shareholder
is the Australian government, and so when the goals were released, we felt that
we had a moral obligation, not only as a large Australian business, but also as
an extension of the Australian government to be doing the right thing in terms
of helping to deliver on the goals. The SDGs, as I said previously, were a
north star for us but they’re not a utopian framework. They have commercial and
strategic value. We wouldn’t have been able to sustain our CSR efforts if they
weren’t proving to be popular, and profitable, with our people and our
customers. When the SDGs came out, we went through a comprehensive mapping
exercise to look at our business strategy. This was around our impact as a
business on the environment, society, customers etc and we also undertook
stakeholder research as well. From that we identified a number of SDGs that we
had the opportunity to influence directly, and some that we were influencing
indirectly. For those that we had the opportunity to influence more directly we
set aspirations for 2030. One of the things that we’ve been doing is looking at
the Australian government’s reporting platform on the SDGs and the indicators
within that — those indicators inform the federal government’s periodic
National Review to the UN. Of those 15, or so, indicators that we’ve been
monitoring we are performing above the national average with respect to 13 of
them.
What about the ones not
performing so well?
Those are the ones that
enable us to identify gaps and areas for improvement. For example, one that we
haven’t been progressing as robustly as we’d like is renewable energy. And so
we’ve stepped up our investment in that area.
Other than the federal
government’s tool, how else do you track impact?
It depends on the metrics we’re
talking about, there could be a flurry of information depending on which one.
For example, we’ve been doing a lot around Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander employment, and so the people and culture team track the data and the
engagement of those employees in that space. We have a strategic community
investment program that’s aligned to the themes of mental health, literacy and
disaster resilience, and that’s led out of our community team. And then on the
environmental front, our big focus areas are around emissions and waste
reduction, increasing recycling and sustainable packaging and we have a really
comprehensive program of work underpinning each of those areas and track that
very carefully.
As Australia Post moves
towards its validated science based target to reduce emissions by 15 per cent
by 2025, how reliant is the business on a partner like Qantas to do the same?
Australia Post has a robust and
strategic relationship with Qantas, it supplies us with our aircrafts, and
their commitment to zero emissions by 2050 will only help us deliver on our
efforts. That’s because about a third of our total emissions come from our
delivery relationship with Qantas. We’re always working with them to drive
efficiencies in our shared freight services and, in addition to that work,
we’ve partnered with Qantas Future Planet on our carbon neutrality for carbon
neutral deliveries program. That means that, since October 2019, every parcel
you send through a retail outlet or through MyPost’s business account is
automatically carbon neutral as we offset the emissions of that delivery.
What does that look like on a
practical level? Is it a financial donation, tree planting?
Qantas Future Planet has a suite
of programs that a company like ours can invest in. We deliberately went
through the different programs with an SDG lens, and aligned them back to our
strategy. And so, we invest in a mix of domestic and international programs,
including reforestation in New South Wales and Queensland and Indigenous fire
management programs in the Northern Territory that help provide both an
environmental impact and employment for Indigenous people up north. We are one
of the top three purchasers of Indigenous offset programs in the country, which
is something I’m quite proud of.
Australia Post’s Group
Corporate Responsibility Plan states that it will establish a target of
procuring $60 million through social enterprises and Indigenous businesses,
between 2020 and 2022. How is that looking as we approach the end of 2021?
It’s looking very positive and
we’re on track to achieve that target. For us it’s not about procuring more,
it’s about doing it differently. An example of a procurement business we use,
and one that I love, is called Nature Call, which is an Indigenous business
providing ethical magpie removal services. With safety being our number one
priority, swooping magpies can be a real hazard for our posties, and so we
partnered with them to remove the magpies from delivery routes, relocate them
and track their movements to ensure they settle appropriately in a new
environment.
The Group Corporate
Responsibility Plan we’ve been talking about only goes to the end of 2022, so
what happens next?
We’re in the early stages
of designing the new plan. We have a new CEO starting soon, who I hope will
help us elevate our sustainability agenda and take it to the next level. We
know that sustainability is of increasing importance to our customers and the
broader Australian community. And, as one of Australia’s most trusted brands,
we have a responsibility to help deliver a more sustainable future.
Environmental sustainability issues will only increase in importance, and our
focus will continue to be around supply chain considerations and the
environment. We’ll be looking at climate risk, sustainable packaging, waste and
circular economy and then supply chain emissions around scope three but also
sustainability considerations on the social side of supply chains in relation
to modern slavery. And I see a real opportunity for us to do more marketing for
our great social and environmental initiatives, and to externally communicate
the progress that we’ve made. I’d also love us to further engage our people so
that they understand the role that they can play, particularly in relation to
environmental sustainability.
Source : https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2021/09
4.CouriersPlease forecasts 30 per
cent growth for December quarter September 21, 2021 Parcel delivery service
CouriersPlease is forecasting a second parcel boom before Christmas. The
e-commerce boom of 2020 has continued well into 2021 and this year, between the
months of March and May, CouriersPlease experienced an 80 per cent spike in
parcel volumes compared with the previous year. October to December is the peak
period for the logistics industry, given the popularity of major shopping
events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as Christmas shopping.
CouriersPlease reports its parcel volumes grew to more than 4.6 million in the
final quarter of 2019, an increase of just 1 per cent (52,000 parcels) on the
2019 September quarter. However, during the 2020 December quarter,
CouriersPlease handled more than 8 million parcels, amounting to a significant
71 per cent growth on the 2019 December quarter. This year CouriersPlease says
it is well on its way to surpassing its 2020 December quarter volumes, already
delivering more than 5.6 million parcels in just eight weeks.
As a result, the company expects
a further 30 per cent growth in the December quarter compared with the same
period last year. This is about 2.4 million more parcels than the company
delivered during the last December quarter, and 122 per cent (5.7 million
parcels) more than the 2019 December quarter. “We’ve continued to experience a
surge in parcel volumes and the current lockdowns have seen volumes soar to the
levels we see during peak periods,” said Phil Reid, CouriersPlease Chief
Operations Officer. “Since last year’s boom, we expanded the business rapidly,
doubling our franchisee network and hiring hundreds more delivery drivers.
However, volumes continue to soar to record levels, and a second parcel boom
this November and December is inevitable. We are preparing for a more than 30
per cent increase in volumes during this period and have already started
recruiting more warehouse staff and delivery drivers where possible.” Reid said
it is important for shoppers to understand that couriers across the country are
delivering more parcels than ever before, particularly as lockdowns continue in
Australia’s two largest cities. “While it is a challenge for the industry to
keep up and deliver within timeframes, we do know how frustrating it can be for
those waiting to receive essential and urgent items,” he said. “Preparing for
potential delays remains important and shoppers should pay particular attention
to notifications from couriers, who are updating delivery timeframes and
communicating delays to the best of their ability.”
Source : https://www.primemovermag.com.au/
5.We are not fooled, Mr.
O’Toole September 18, 2021
The history between the
Conservatives and Canadian labour unions is far from being a fairy tale. Cuts,
back-to-work legislations, closures, privatizations; the Conservatives’
multiple attacks to destroy our working conditions while in power should be of
great concern to Canadian workers should Mr. O’Toole win the election on
Monday.
Mr. O’Toole, the new leader of
the Conservative Party, claims to be on the side of working people, but a quick
glance at his platform is enough to deflate any hope for us, the activists and
defenders of workers’ rights.
Mr. O’Toole’s words pale in
comparison to the actions of the Conservative Party. Although he claims to be
an “ally” of workers, he actually was a member of Mr. Harper’s cabinet when
26,000 federal employees lost their jobs under the last Conservative
government. Mr. O’Toole supported all of the Harper government’s back-to-work
legislations that curtailed the collective bargaining rights of thousands of
workers. In 2011, his party passed an unconstitutional back-to-work legislation
that threatened to attack our jobs as postal workers. In 2015, eight thousands
of our brothers and sisters were at risk of losing their jobs, and the future
of door-to-door mail delivery was at stake. Thousands of citizens, allies,
unions, community groups and others from across the country joined us and
managed to turn the concerns of postal workers into one of the key issues of
the electoral campaign. And guess what? We won. You have repeatedly turned down
our requests for meetings, and our calls and emails go unanswered. You don’t
seem to realize that we are in the middle of an election campaign and that
Canadian labour unions represent thousands of voters. CUPW, of which we are
members, has 61,000 voters, and still you have chosen to remain silent. Where
is the logic between your words and your actions, if from the outset and before
you are even elected, you don’t bother to listen to us? Mr. O’Toole, despite
your empty rhetoric masquerading as goodwill, we are not fooled. You will not
get our votes. Moreover, we have done and will do everything we can between now
and Monday to ensure that your party does not get into power, for the sake of
our brothers and sisters, for the sake of all Canadian labour unions, for the
sake of all workers. We deserve better than the Conservatives’ usual contempt
for us.
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
POSTAL NEWS No 76-2021
Formulated by UNI Apro Post and
Logistics Sector
1. PMG discusses future at NPF.
September 24, 2021.
2. Postal services: As of April
1, 2022, mail will be delivered in a reduced volumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
September 23, 2021.
3. How Australia Post brought its
focus to sustainability. September 22, 2021.
4. Couriers Please forecasts 30
per cent growth for December quarter. September 21, 2021.
5. We are not fooled, Mr. O’Toole.
September 18, 2021.
1.PMG discusses future at NPF
September 24, 2021 He touted several of the Delivering for America initiatives
that are currently underway, including strengthening the workforce, adding
package processing equipment, investing in information processing, rolling out
new delivery vehicles and piloting USPS Connect Local.
“Everybody’s excited to move
forward with these transformative changes,” DeJoy said. The Postmaster General
also signaled that he expects Congress to act on postal reform legislation this
fall.
“This is a process and I’m
impressed with how the process is moving. I really believe the Congress wants
to get it passed,” he said. The conference was held Sept. 20-22. Other sessions
focused on direct mail, data tracking, professional development and mail
operations. The National Postal Forum, or NPF, is a not-for-profit educational
corporation founded in 1968 to ensure open lines of communication between USPS
and business customers.
Source : https://www.postaltimes.com/postalnews
2.Postal services: As of April 1,
2022, mail will be delivered in a reduced volumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
September 23, 2021 The volume of printed mail continues to fall, and the needs
and requirements of mail_sending companies and institutions are becoming
differentiated. As a response to the change, we are developing our delivery
services together with our customers. One way is to concentrate mail delivery
on to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with lightened deliveries made on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The current Light Friday delivery will be changed to a
Light Thursday delivery from April 1, 2022 onward. Nowadays, a household
receives approximately 3.5 addressed items per week. In the 2000s, the volume
of letters has fallen by over 60% because of digital communications. In
addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced the volume of letters
especially. In addition to the development of mail volumes, Posti’s delivery
services take into account the needs of mail-sending customers e.g., needs in
different parts of Finland and within urban areas as well as sparsely populated
areas. By varying the rhythm of delivery according to the volume of mail on
weekdays is an important tool that enables us to ensure the continuity of
postal services for citizens and businesses throughout the country. The change
in reduced mail volumes from Friday to Thursday does not result to the need to
reduce personnel. We will deliver newspapers in Posti’s early-morning delivery
seven days a week. Other mail will be delivered on five weekdays. With regard
of universal service, delivery takes place in accordance with the Postal Act.
The change will not affect the mail delivery speed. Posti's service points and
customer service will be open as usual, and the change will not affect parcel
deliveries.
We will switch to lightened
Thursday deliveries in April 2022.
We will tell mail recipients more
closer to the date. Until April 2022, we will continue to deliver mail in a
reduced capacity on Tuesdays and Fridays. Delivered on Tuesdays and
Thursdays: § Newspapers in early-morning delivery § Newspapers
in daytime delivery § Letters and postcards with a Plus Sticker § Express
letters § Parcels § Laboratory items § Items sent
to a corporate postal code, corporate addresses, and P.O. Box Delivered on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: All products, including the above
Source : https://www.posti.com/en/media/media-news/2021
3.How Australia Post brought
its focus to sustainability September 22, 2021
We sat down for a conversation
with Susan Mizrahi, Australia Post’s chief sustainability officer, about how
one of Australia’s most trusted brands approaches sustainability. After
spending four years as head of corporate responsibility for Australia Post,
Susan Mizrahi became the business’s chief sustainability officer in 2019It was
a role first established under the leadership of Christine Holgate and Nicole
Sheffield, who worked to elevate the business’s sustainability credentials by
bringing together the corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability
teams. Since Mizrahi took on the job, Australia Post has released its first
Group Corporate Responsibility Plan, shifted to 100 per cent recyclable packing
and created a carbon neutral deliveries program. It currently has over 3,000
electric delivery vehicles on the road. We caught up with Mizrahi to discuss
what the last couple of years have been like for her and her team, what
sustainability looks like for Australia Post moving forward, and how they’re
approaching the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
What is Australia Post’s
approach to being a sustainable business?
We’re taking a holistic and very
deliberate, strategic approach to sustainability. In 2016 we were one of the
first Australian companies to embrace the SDGs, and they’ve acted as our north
star. They’ve both underpinned and helped frame our approach to sustainability,
and corporate responsibility, in recent years. In 2020, we released our first
Group Corporate Responsibility Plan, which covers off the social, environmental
and governance dimensions [of the business] to ensure that we’re profiting
responsibly. It was the first public facing plan specifically related to our
targets and our approach to sustainability that we’d ever laid out, and it held
us to account both internally and externally. It laid the foundation for how we
were going to drive value creation both socially and environmentally and how we
would practice good governance, as a corporation. We’re now two years into that
plan and we’ve achieved a number of milestones.
Tell me a bit about those
milestones…
One hundred per cent of our
packaging is now recyclable and the vast majority of that is made with recycled
content – we will be 100 per cent on both fronts by the end of this year,
delivering on a pledge we made at the Australian Plastics Summit last year. We
have offset 124 million parcels through our carbon neutral deliveries program
with Qantas Future Planet. We’ve published a series of white papers to help
support our customers, suppliers and partners to address the SDGs. The latest
being a small business sustainability white paper, in partnership with the
Banksia Foundation, that provides our small business partners and customers
with a roadmap of how they can grow their business sustainably. We’ve published
our fourth Reconciliation Action Plan, and achieved our enterprise target of 3
per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. And we’re one of Australia’s
first 13 companies to set a validated science based target, which is to address
our scope one, two and three emissions. Australia Post also has Australia’s
largest electric fleet for last mile delivery with over 3,000 electric delivery
vehicles on the road, and we’re about to launch 20 new Fuso eCantor electric
trucks into the Australian market — the first time those trucks are being used
in Australia.
It sounds as if the work
you’re doing in the SDG space is going very well. With so many businesses
reported to be playing catch up with the SDGs, what’s Australia Post doing
differently?
We’ve taken a really robust
approach to the SDGs. Being a government business enterprise, our shareholder
is the Australian government, and so when the goals were released, we felt that
we had a moral obligation, not only as a large Australian business, but also as
an extension of the Australian government to be doing the right thing in terms
of helping to deliver on the goals. The SDGs, as I said previously, were a north
star for us but they’re not a utopian framework. They have commercial and
strategic value. We wouldn’t have been able to sustain our CSR efforts if they
weren’t proving to be popular, and profitable, with our people and our
customers. When the SDGs came out, we went through a comprehensive mapping
exercise to look at our business strategy. This was around our impact as a
business on the environment, society, customers etc and we also undertook
stakeholder research as well. From that we identified a number of SDGs that we
had the opportunity to influence directly, and some that we were influencing
indirectly. For those that we had the opportunity to influence more directly we
set aspirations for 2030. One of the things that we’ve been doing is looking at
the Australian government’s reporting platform on the SDGs and the indicators
within that — those indicators inform the federal government’s periodic
National Review to the UN. Of those 15, or so, indicators that we’ve been
monitoring we are performing above the national average with respect to 13 of
them.
What about the ones not
performing so well?
Those are the ones that
enable us to identify gaps and areas for improvement. For example, one that we
haven’t been progressing as robustly as we’d like is renewable energy. And so
we’ve stepped up our investment in that area.
Other than the federal government’s
tool, how else do you track impact?
It depends on the metrics we’re
talking about, there could be a flurry of information depending on which one.
For example, we’ve been doing a lot around Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander employment, and so the people and culture team track the data and the
engagement of those employees in that space. We have a strategic community
investment program that’s aligned to the themes of mental health, literacy and
disaster resilience, and that’s led out of our community team. And then on the
environmental front, our big focus areas are around emissions and waste
reduction, increasing recycling and sustainable packaging and we have a really
comprehensive program of work underpinning each of those areas and track that very
carefully.
As Australia Post moves
towards its validated science based target to reduce emissions by 15 per cent
by 2025, how reliant is the business on a partner like Qantas to do the same?
Australia Post has a robust and
strategic relationship with Qantas, it supplies us with our aircrafts, and
their commitment to zero emissions by 2050 will only help us deliver on our
efforts. That’s because about a third of our total emissions come from our
delivery relationship with Qantas. We’re always working with them to drive
efficiencies in our shared freight services and, in addition to that work,
we’ve partnered with Qantas Future Planet on our carbon neutrality for carbon
neutral deliveries program. That means that, since October 2019, every parcel
you send through a retail outlet or through MyPost’s business account is
automatically carbon neutral as we offset the emissions of that delivery.
What does that look like on a
practical level? Is it a financial donation, tree planting?
Qantas Future Planet has a suite
of programs that a company like ours can invest in. We deliberately went
through the different programs with an SDG lens, and aligned them back to our
strategy. And so, we invest in a mix of domestic and international programs,
including reforestation in New South Wales and Queensland and Indigenous fire
management programs in the Northern Territory that help provide both an
environmental impact and employment for Indigenous people up north. We are one
of the top three purchasers of Indigenous offset programs in the country, which
is something I’m quite proud of.
Australia Post’s Group
Corporate Responsibility Plan states that it will establish a target of
procuring $60 million through social enterprises and Indigenous businesses,
between 2020 and 2022. How is that looking as we approach the end of 2021?
It’s looking very positive and
we’re on track to achieve that target. For us it’s not about procuring more,
it’s about doing it differently. An example of a procurement business we use,
and one that I love, is called Nature Call, which is an Indigenous business
providing ethical magpie removal services. With safety being our number one
priority, swooping magpies can be a real hazard for our posties, and so we
partnered with them to remove the magpies from delivery routes, relocate them
and track their movements to ensure they settle appropriately in a new
environment.
The Group Corporate
Responsibility Plan we’ve been talking about only goes to the end of 2022, so
what happens next?
We’re in the early stages
of designing the new plan. We have a new CEO starting soon, who I hope will
help us elevate our sustainability agenda and take it to the next level. We
know that sustainability is of increasing importance to our customers and the
broader Australian community. And, as one of Australia’s most trusted brands,
we have a responsibility to help deliver a more sustainable future.
Environmental sustainability issues will only increase in importance, and our
focus will continue to be around supply chain considerations and the
environment. We’ll be looking at climate risk, sustainable packaging, waste and
circular economy and then supply chain emissions around scope three but also
sustainability considerations on the social side of supply chains in relation
to modern slavery. And I see a real opportunity for us to do more marketing for
our great social and environmental initiatives, and to externally communicate
the progress that we’ve made. I’d also love us to further engage our people so
that they understand the role that they can play, particularly in relation to
environmental sustainability.
Source : https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2021/09
4.CouriersPlease forecasts 30 per
cent growth for December quarter September 21, 2021 Parcel delivery service
CouriersPlease is forecasting a second parcel boom before Christmas. The
e-commerce boom of 2020 has continued well into 2021 and this year, between the
months of March and May, CouriersPlease experienced an 80 per cent spike in
parcel volumes compared with the previous year. October to December is the peak
period for the logistics industry, given the popularity of major shopping
events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as Christmas shopping.
CouriersPlease reports its parcel volumes grew to more than 4.6 million in the
final quarter of 2019, an increase of just 1 per cent (52,000 parcels) on the
2019 September quarter. However, during the 2020 December quarter,
CouriersPlease handled more than 8 million parcels, amounting to a significant
71 per cent growth on the 2019 December quarter. This year CouriersPlease says
it is well on its way to surpassing its 2020 December quarter volumes, already
delivering more than 5.6 million parcels in just eight weeks.
As a result, the company expects
a further 30 per cent growth in the December quarter compared with the same
period last year. This is about 2.4 million more parcels than the company delivered
during the last December quarter, and 122 per cent (5.7 million parcels) more
than the 2019 December quarter. “We’ve continued to experience a surge in
parcel volumes and the current lockdowns have seen volumes soar to the levels
we see during peak periods,” said Phil Reid, CouriersPlease Chief Operations
Officer. “Since last year’s boom, we expanded the business rapidly, doubling
our franchisee network and hiring hundreds more delivery drivers. However,
volumes continue to soar to record levels, and a second parcel boom this
November and December is inevitable. We are preparing for a more than 30 per
cent increase in volumes during this period and have already started recruiting
more warehouse staff and delivery drivers where possible.” Reid said it is
important for shoppers to understand that couriers across the country are
delivering more parcels than ever before, particularly as lockdowns continue in
Australia’s two largest cities. “While it is a challenge for the industry to
keep up and deliver within timeframes, we do know how frustrating it can be for
those waiting to receive essential and urgent items,” he said. “Preparing for
potential delays remains important and shoppers should pay particular attention
to notifications from couriers, who are updating delivery timeframes and
communicating delays to the best of their ability.”
Source : https://www.primemovermag.com.au/
5.We are not fooled, Mr.
O’Toole September 18, 2021
The history between the Conservatives
and Canadian labour unions is far from being a fairy tale. Cuts, back-to-work
legislations, closures, privatizations; the Conservatives’ multiple attacks to
destroy our working conditions while in power should be of great concern to
Canadian workers should Mr. O’Toole win the election on Monday.
Mr. O’Toole, the new leader of
the Conservative Party, claims to be on the side of working people, but a quick
glance at his platform is enough to deflate any hope for us, the activists and
defenders of workers’ rights.
Mr. O’Toole’s words pale in
comparison to the actions of the Conservative Party. Although he claims to be
an “ally” of workers, he actually was a member of Mr. Harper’s cabinet when
26,000 federal employees lost their jobs under the last Conservative
government. Mr. O’Toole supported all of the Harper government’s back-to-work
legislations that curtailed the collective bargaining rights of thousands of
workers. In 2011, his party passed an unconstitutional back-to-work legislation
that threatened to attack our jobs as postal workers. In 2015, eight thousands
of our brothers and sisters were at risk of losing their jobs, and the future
of door-to-door mail delivery was at stake. Thousands of citizens, allies,
unions, community groups and others from across the country joined us and
managed to turn the concerns of postal workers into one of the key issues of
the electoral campaign. And guess what? We won. You have repeatedly turned down
our requests for meetings, and our calls and emails go unanswered. You don’t
seem to realize that we are in the middle of an election campaign and that
Canadian labour unions represent thousands of voters. CUPW, of which we are
members, has 61,000 voters, and still you have chosen to remain silent. Where
is the logic between your words and your actions, if from the outset and before
you are even elected, you don’t bother to listen to us? Mr. O’Toole, despite
your empty rhetoric masquerading as goodwill, we are not fooled. You will not
get our votes. Moreover, we have done and will do everything we can between now
and Monday to ensure that your party does not get into power, for the sake of
our brothers and sisters, for the sake of all Canadian labour unions, for the
sake of all workers. We deserve better than the Conservatives’ usual contempt
for us.
Source : https://www.cupw.ca/en
INSTRUCTIONS ON MODALITY FOR UPWARD REVISION OF TRCA OF GDSs CONSEQUENT UPON INCREASE IN WORKLOAD
REVISION OF THE MONETARY LIMITS FOR INVESTIGATIONS IN LOSS AND FRAUD CASES BY DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF POSTS
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
MITx Micro Masters programme in Data, Economics and Development Policy (DEDP) under Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) Programme through Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) mechanism.
Instructions on modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDSs consequent upon increase in workload
Notification for Examination for promotion to the cadre of PO/RMS Accountants to be held on 31.10.2021 - Gujarat Circle
Instructions on modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDSs consequent upon increase in workload
Instructions on modality for upward revision of TRCA of GDSs consequent upon increase in workload
Circle Working Committee of NUPEc Maharashtra circle were held at Chinchbandar Post office Mumbai
Circle Working Committee of NUPEc Maharashtra circle were held at Chinchbandar Post office Mumbai under the chairmanship of AJAY JADHAV, vice President NUPE P.MNEN & MTS Gr-C.The CWC were continued for more than 10 hours on both day. Following issues have been discussed during CWC -
1. Stop harrasment of Target during pandemic situation in the name of target.
2. Prompt holding of periodical meetings at all levels.
3. IPPB work should be taken into load.
4. Release of sufficient funds like Medical, TA bills etc.
5. Network related issues should be resolved immediately.
6. Suply of new mobiles to all postmen and GDS.
7. Engage outsiders on vacant post of postmen and MTS.
8.Grant back wages and seniority to 2015 direct recruit Postmen/ MTS candidates, case of maharashtra circle
9. Fill up all vacant posts of Postmen and MTS
10. Regarding reversion of MTS.
11. Rule 38 transfer cases.
Ex SG T N Rahate sir, SG shri B Shivkumar ji, GS shri Nisar Mujawar and CS Shri Sunil Zunjarrao, Dy CS shri Santosh Lad, AGS Ajay jadhav, shri Salvi sir, shri, Gadgil Guruji, and shri R H Guptaji CS NAPEc has explained the present situation and the demands raised by the Members. CWC also decided to send copy of resolutions to The CPMG for taking action. Also all leaders have meet Hon CPMG Maharashtra Sir on 27.09.2021 and discussed many important issues thoroughly. During the agenda of filling up of vacant posts Shri Sudhir Garibe , South Dn Mumbai , Shri Aambwane, Nagpur city,, Shri Ankush Dangad Pune West are unanimously elected as President and Vice President respectively due to retirement of SHRI T N RAHATE,Shri P S Shinde and Shri E. A. Baruwa, CWC ended with vote of thanks to all and with Slogans..
FNPO-Zindabad, NUPE -Zindabad,
With regards, Nisar Mujawar GS NUPE New Delhi.
This year, the Universal Postal Union has chosen to mark World Post Day with a virtual event on 8 October.
UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein invites you to attend the UPU's World Post Day ceremony.
|
LIC, India Post ink pact for docus’ printing
Mumbai: In a move that will enable policyholders to receive documents much faster, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has partnered India Post for its ‘print-to-post’ service.
The postal department’s facility executes all pre-mailing activities including printing for the customer and dispatch of the policy booklet issued under a life insurance policy. Telangana circle will be the first to deploy this service. LIC chairman M R Kumar said that print-to-post was the missing piece in the complete digitalisation of services for the corporation. According to Ajay Kumar Roy, deputy director general of the Postal Directorate at New Delhi, India Post will work to ensure delivery on the day of receipt.LIC has a market share of nearly 75% in terms of the number of policies. The corporation had issued 2.1 crore policies in FY21, of which nearly 47 lakh were issued in March 2021. The partnership with India Post is expected to help in reducing the documentation burden.
India Posts will undertake centralised printing of policy bonds and dispatch them by speed post. An additional benefit to the customer will be that they can track the whole process.