News

The UNI Americas Post & Logistics Committee meeting in Panama, which was chaired by Lynn Bue from CUPW, Canada, and attended by the UNI World President of UNI Post & Logistics, Rolf Buttner, and new Head of Department Neil Anderson, discussed the need to develop an action oriented strategic plan and to set some priorities for UNI Americas. After opening addresses from Rueben Cortina, UNI Americas President and from UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings where he praised the work done by the Post & Logistics World Committee in "Stepping up to step out" there was good discussion from the committee about the issues of concern for postal workers and how UNI Post & Logistics could help meet those concerns. The committee set priorities for the work over the next period, following essentially the lead set by the extraordinary meeting of the UNI World Post & Logistics Committee where 6 main objectives were identified. These are; Organising the multinationals and developing Global Framework Agreements, Increasing organising initiatives, Improving UNI's relationship with the International Transport Federation, Improving UNI’s relationship with the Universal Postal Union, Postal regulatory policy, Developing a clearinghouse function and information sharing, Improving organizational effectiveness and communicating within the sector.



There was wide-ranging discussion on these issues and the committee set some goals and objectives under each heading so it could measure progress in the future.



There was also discussion on what UNI Post & Logistics needed to have as a policy platform in respect of regulation and it was agreed to build a robust policy around three main issues;

1. Making sure there is availability of an affordable universal postal service

2. Ensuring postal companies provide quality services and these services maintain quality jobs

3. That there is full financial transparency of postal companies to ensure a totally level playing field in the Post & Logistics industry.



One of the other main issues the meeting spent some time discussing was how Post & Logistics unions in the region could work with UNI to organise the main logistics companies. A fcus was placed on DHL and on developing a campaign of unionising this company's operations. A plan of action for the region to participate in UNI's DHL campaign was discussed and agreed.



The committee also discussed proposals for the next UNI Americas Post & Logistics Conference which is due to be held in June 2009. The colleagues from the Mexican affiliate, SPM, offered to host the conference and the committee accepted this offer with a proposed date of around June 2009. The themes and format for the conference were also discussed and ideas developed to make the conference more meaningful for affiliates.



During the meeting the Committee joined the UNI Americas Women's Conference, also taking place at the same venue, to celebrate the launching of a new postmark or postal seal, that will be used in all Post Offices in Panama during the next few months, to cancel stamps. This special "postmark" promotes the UNI Women's Committee's vision of eliminating violence against women. The Committee expressed it's appreciation to Panama Post for highlighting this important issue in such a way.