World Post Day – Safeguarding the right to postal services

Today, on #WorldPostDay, UNI Global Union is standing in solidarity with postal workers in Denmark, where parliament has revoked the universal service obligation (USO) to provide affordable, accessible and regular mail deliveries to all its people.  

A declaration endorsed by UNI’s postal affiliates in Europe calls on PostNord Denmark and the government to safeguard postal workers’ jobs and conditions, implement upskilling programmes and regulate the parcels market to prevent downward pressure on wages and working conditions. Since the new postal law took effect earlier this year, over 700 jobs have been lost.

“These reforms disproportionately affect those who depend on postal services, including rural communities and vulnerable groups,” says the declaration in support of UNI’s Danish postal affiliate 3F, emphasizing that postal services are a lifeline for many who do not have easy access to digital communication.

The legislative changes ended nationwide letter delivery services by PostNord Denmark, except for small islands, visually impaired individuals and international mail. The new system has led to reduced service frequency (now within five business days), increased inequality, as well as higher prices, with a 100 per cent hike in domestic letter delivery costs.

The declaration warns that the reform risks creating a quasi-monopoly — deteriorating services and leaving Danish citizens with an uncertain postal future. Alarmingly, procurement to visually impaired Danish citizens has already been lost by PostNord Denmark.

Representatives from UNI postal unions from 11 countries gathered at a UNI Europa Post & Logistics meeting at the 3F offices in Copenhagen on 8 and 9 October to lend solidarity to Danish postal workers and learn from their experiences.

Speaking at the meeting on World Post Day, 3F Postal Sector President, Dzevad Ramic, said:

“Our priority is upskilling our workforce, providing retraining opportunities and ensuring that those affected by layoffs can quickly find new employment, so no one is left behind. Financial compensation is already part of our collective agreement, and many workers have been able to secure new jobs fairly quickly. We’re making a concerted effort to make these initiatives visible and widely known.”

Ramic offered words of advice to unions in other countries facing the same pressures to abandon the universal service obligation.

“Digitalization is here to stay. As a society, we’ve accepted this shift. The real challenge now is how we confront it, adapt and influence political decisions. It’s critical to engage politicians on the issues, and stress the importance of collective agreements. I’m actively sharing our experiences with colleagues in Sweden so they can learn from what’s happening in Denmark and prepare for what lies ahead.”

Ramic called for public tenders for postal services to include strong clauses that guarantee good working conditions and protections vulnerable communities. Thomas Monberg, member of parliament for the Social Democrats in Denmark, who attended the meeting, also said:

“Competition shouldn’t just be about prices, we must ensure that the post & logistics sector continues to provide good jobs and working conditions.”

Dimitris Theodorakis, acting Head of UNI Post & Logistics, concluded:

“The changes to Denmark’s postal services set a worrying precedent for postal workers and the public across the globe. At UNI, we stand firmly with 3F Post in their fight to protect jobs and ensure fair working conditions. Digitalization may be reshaping our industry, but it must not come at the expense of quality service or good working conditions. Strong collective agreements and meaningful dialogue with lawmakers are essential to ensure that workers and communities are not left behind.”

👊 Together with UNI Europa Post & Logistics President, Jens Saverstam, we stand in solidarity with postal workers in Denmark, where the right to quality postal services, at affordable prices, known as the Universal Service Obligation (USO) – has been abolished. #SaveOurPost pic.twitter.com/MxGGZzODRy

— UNI Global Union (@uniglobalunion) October 8, 2024