Fin Post - Postal Employees on Work Restrictions from Wed

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Postal Employees on Work Restrictions from Wednesday

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Members of the Finnish Post and Logistics Union PAU plan to begin a ban on overtime work and extra duties from midnight Tuesday.

Among other issues, postal workers are concerned about newcomers entering the distribution arena. According to PAU, funding from the state postal services and logistics agency Itella would no longer be assured in the presence of competition.

The postal workers’ union also pointed out that its collective agreement with the employers’ association TIKLI expired last Friday, and there has been no progress in talks aimed at hammering out a new accord.

Further, the lack of information on new postal services legislation has stonewalled the process. The government has not yet tabled the postal services bill, which was handed over to Communications Minister Suvi Lindén last spring.

The ban on overtime work and extra duties applies to 22,000 workers employed by Posti and Itella. PAU has warned that further industrial action could be implemented on November 2nd, but provided no additional information on those measures.

The protest action is not expected to affect the distribution of newspapers, while services related to the provision of medical and health care will be provided as usual.

Itella has said that the work restrictions could create delays in its postal distribution services.