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The 13th UNI Apro East Asia Postal Union Forum was held in Kyoto on October 27, 2015.  It attracted around 70 people from Japan Postal Group Union (JPGU), Korean Postal Workers Union (KPWU), and Chunghwa Postal Workers Union (CPWU).  This forum focused on improvement of working conditions for part-time workers, Postal service businesses and each postal union’s strategic initiatives in three East Asian countries.

In the opening, President Omata of JPGU stated, “Development of AI (artificial intelligence) is changing work style of workers both positively and negatively.  Human beings are needed for personal touch service.  Some work should be done by human for personal touch service.”

Bro. Shiba, Director of Planning Department of JPGU made a presentation on the IPO of Japan Post and its takeover of the Toll Holdings.  “Japan has faced that mail volumes have been declining, on the other hand, parcels have been growing enormously.  In corresponding to the current business trend, Japan Post purchased Toll as growth engine for postal business before its IPO.”

Mr. Metoki, Senior Vice President of Japan Post, explained new service products for outbound markets and new customer development strategies of Japan Post.

Issues surrounded by part-timers are common among three unions in their countries. Full-timers and part-timers are not equally treated by these companies.  Unions are putting all their efforts into the better treatment of part-timers and each union reported on successful bargaining results.  For example, JPGU achieved promotions from part-timers to full-timers and higher postal minimum wages than those of prefectures.  CPWU described the double personnel system where public workers and non-public workers co-exist in Chunghwa Post.  KPWU explained the result of Postmen employment satisfactory survey which was conducted by KPWU, and its procedure of discrimination corrective measures among full-timers and part-timers.

Bro. Ito, Director of UNI Apro Post and Logistics, retiring next year, described his 15 year-long service such as what has been done, what has not been done, and challenges we face now.  Regarding unfinished things, he hoped his successor will break through.

In the panel discussion, the three top leaders talked about the diversification of postal businesses.  With the growth of e-commerce, mail volumes have been down while parcel volumes have been increasing.  Parcel market has been facing strong competition.  Postal services have strong financial units as well as mail businesses. Therefore, unique business model has been formed in three nations in the mega competitive era.  In conclusion, they agreed to keep three services as one integrated service.

The next forum will be held in Korea in 2016.