Swiss Post: Letter carriers' unions fear job cuts
The postal service plans to purchase new sorting machines that will sort the mail instead of the mail carriers. According to the Communications Union, the new sorting machines could save one out of every five hours worked by mail carriers.
The project is called Distrinova. Swiss Post wants to use it to streamline the logistics of letter traffic. The greatest potential is seen in the introduction of so-called aisle sorting. Swiss Post spokesman Oliver Flüeler confirmed the tender for a major order on the Swiss television program 10vor10 on Friday evening. With this new high-tech machine, manual sorting by letter carriers will be largely eliminated. A single one of these machines costs several million francs.
Flüeler said in the program that 20 to 60 such machines is the total volume that could theoretically be implemented. However, the decision to purchase has not yet been made, he said, and there will be certainty at the beginning of next year. However, automation means fewer jobs. According to the communications union, the new sorting machine could save every fifth hour worked by letter carriers. If these machines are used across the board, up to 3,400 letter carriers' jobs would be at risk, according to union vice-president Fritz Gurtner.
Flüeler said in the program that 20 to 60 such machines is the total volume that could theoretically be implemented. However, the decision to purchase has not yet been made, he said, and there will be certainty at the beginning of next year. However, automation means fewer jobs. According to the communications union, the new sorting machine could save every fifth hour worked by letter carriers. If these machines are used across the board, up to 3,400 letter carriers' jobs would be at risk, according to union vice-president Fritz Gurtner.
