Postal workers in the Canary Islands are contemplating a general strike in September if conditions do not improve significantly. Pedro Segura, the postal sector secretary for the CCOO union in the archipelago, highlighted the critical situation, revealing that some staffing levels are below 50% in many post offices.
Segura expressed his concerns in a press conference, stating, “We are not ruling out the possibility of a general strike in September if there is no radical change. The situation for postal workers is completely unsustainable.” He emphasised the severe staffing shortages affecting the state-owned postal service in the Canary Islands, which has led to major operational problems.
The staffing crisis is so acute that some offices are operating with less than half of their required personnel due to unfilled structural positions, absenteeism, and holidays. “We are not asking for extra staff; we simply want the existing positions to be filled,” Segura insisted. The union has calculated that at least 600 positions, already established but currently vacant, need to be filled.
The staffing shortages have also led to a significant loss of customer trust. Segura pointed out the particular challenges in handling notifications and parcel deliveries, noting that customers expect prompt delivery services these days.
Impact on Services
“Correos, with its extensive network, should be able to manage these services with high quality. However, the lack of workers results in significant delays for packages ordered by citizens,” he said. He highlighted critical “black spots” in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, where hiring issues are most severe and have not been adequately addressed by the company.
Segura also warned about the potential serious consequences for the public when it comes to notifications, such as electricity bills or tax-related notices, which could incur penalties if not delivered promptly. “The delays are very serious,” he stressed.
