Smaller post offices bring in less revenue

Canada Post  has announced plans to make post offices more compact. The "new smaller retail model" was tested last November in Chatham, Ontario, where the post office was renovated over a weekend.  The Canadian Union of Postal Workers reports that the office lost 1.5 positions, has only one sales register, is inefficiently designed, and has increased customer complaints about wait times. It is also expected to bring in less revenue.

And if revenue decreases, Canada Post would have an argument to close corporation post offices, in favour of expanding private sector outlets.

 

Private sector outlets, says CUPW, are not as reliable, because operators can come and go depending upon profitability. The service is not as accountable as a public post office, said the union.

 

CUPW points to Australia, where the government is expanding its public postal services. Other countries are adding new revenue-generating services such as postal banking — options, according to the union, which would add value to public post offices rather than undermine them.