AUSTRALIA Post’s decision to phase out next-day delivery to some Riverina centres will lead to job losses at the Lavington distribution centre.
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The number of jobs to go is yet to be revealed.
An Australia Post spokeswoman yesterday said voluntary redundancy programs were in place and no worker would have to take forced redundancy.
The changes prompted Border businesses to circulate petitions against them when they were proposed in October.
Assistant national secretary of the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union Martin O’Nea said regional towns deserved better.
“We believe services have been maintained for 30 years because there was an acknowledgement people in regional centres need the same services as metro areas,” he said.
“Australia Post have identified regional Australia as an area is it going to slash and it is unwarranted and unwelcome.”
Mr O’Nea said the union had managed to protect next-day delivery in Border cities and towns.
The Australia Post spokeswoman confirmed mail sent to and from Albury, Lavington, Corowa, Mulwala and Wodonga would still have next-day delivery.
Mail sent to or from centres outside those five postcodes would be sorted in Canberra before being delivered.
“Processing and delivery of country mail will go to major regional and metro centres to create greater efficiencies,” the spokeswoman said.
“This will not impact on our legislated service requirement to meet the standard of 94 per cent of letters delivered on time nationally.”
The spokeswoman said the organisation was committed to maintaining a sustainable service in all rural and regional areas of NSW and Victoria.
Mr O’Nea encouraged those unhappy with changes to service to lobby their MPs.
“Write a letter as well, rather than email,” he said.
Australia Post could not confirm when the changes would happen.
