Had to cancel half of the employees – NRK

The case was featured Dagens Næringsliv this morning. Then we had the staff at Norpost in Sarpsborg, 19 other regional offices and headquarters in Oslo has been informed that about half of the up to one thousand employees lose their jobs.

The reason is that Norpost can no longer wait for the Norway Post gives them access to deliver mail mailbox systems in apartment buildings and townhouses.

– 1 January this year entered the new Postal Services Act in force, with full liberalization, explains CEO Hege Stenmarck in Norpost.

Norpost have today had to inform half of their employees that they be terminated. CEO Hege Stenmarck said layoffs may be revoked if the case find a solution.

Photo: Norpost

– in this connection, we should access the zone keys to blocks and apartment buildings in Norway, so we could add administrative record straight in mailboxes. Nobody wants debt collection notices or insurance letter and the like provided on the doormat.

– Unfortunately, we have not got the key. Posten has refused, Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority has also said no to, to put it that way, “forcing” Norway Post to give out keys, continues Stenmarck

– And now you can not wait longer?

– it is important for us not to have the access. It has nothing to do with the orders we have received, and the ability to get those orders. This is lost revenue for our part, and very regrettable for our employees.

Requires a judicial review

– Norway Post can not disclose keys to thousands of letterbox systems in apartment buildings across the country without first having a sufficient legal basis for it, the answer is in a press release Norway Post issued this afternoon.

Communication Elisabeth H. Gjølme adding that she finds it very strange that Norpost to take this step now.

– They have competed with Posten for delivery of mail for 30 years including letters and leaf weighing over 50 grams, says Executive Vice president communications, Elisabeth H. Gjølme Norway Post.

Want a solution

Norpost will not stop with this. They have been in constant dialogue with the Ministry of Transport and Stenmarck say they are still working to clarify key situation.

At the latest august 17th we were meeting with Norpost and authorities to try to find a common key solution, says communications director Elisabeth. H. Gjølme Norway Post.

Photo: Erik Burås / Norway Post

– we must continue to be a competitive company for the future. We believe in this market and that there should not be any monopoly in this market.

– Does that mean that these redundancies can be revoked?

– If something happens here, we will of course consider it. But first there will be layoffs because we see no good solution to this in the course of this year. We do not get access to these zones keys this year, says Stenmarck.

Post says they also want this fixed.

– We have set up at all ways to help clarify this question. The matter now rests with the government, and I consider it unreasonable to assert that we restrict competition in the postal market, says Gjølme.