The Hague, the Netherlands, 22 May 2024 – On May 21, PostNL and members of trade unions BVPP, CNV and FNV were meeting for the first time to discuss new CLAs for PostNL employees and for Saturday deliverers. The new CLAs will govern some 16,500 employees. Mail deliverers have their own separate CLA, which was recently signed.
The new CLAs set down agreements that reflect the interests of all employees, such as pay, duration of the agreement, sustainable employability, benefits, employment conditions and pensions. PostNL has sent a letter to the unions specifying its opening position in the negotiations.
HR Director Jeroen Veldstra said: “Our aim is to reach robust and appropriate agreements with unions BVPP, CNV and FNV that reflect our appreciation for our mail deliverers and are financially viable for PostNL, keeping us attractive as an employer for the long haul as well. At the same time, we must keep in mind the tough situation that PostNL finds itself in. We are pleased to engage with the trade unions and are looking for a solid outcome.”
For many years now, PostNL has been facing variable growth in parcel volumes and declining mail volumes. Volumes of parcels from international customers, in particular, have been on the up and are causing lower average returns per parcel. This shift is expected to continue to cause margin pressures.
PostNL’s mail business is facing persistent declines in postal volumes and a steep rise in costs. PostNL recently announced it is looking to change its postal service to delivery within two days and later also within three days – a change required to adapt its network further and keep the postal service future-proof and financially healthy. The new set-up would also better reflect customer and consumer expectations as well as today’s labour market.