The postman is central to strategy and the future of mail

Raymond Redding, Post General Manager, today, 6th October, presented an extensive modernisation programme which will affect the 100,000 postmen and postwomen throughout France. La Poste’s ambition is to become the number 1 postal service in Europe. The postman, at the core of customer relations and one of the most popular characters of the French, is central to this strategy. Therefore the Group is going to invest 700 million euros, between now and 2010, in the modernisation of the profession of postman who every morning carries with him La Poste and public service values.

200 million euros will be invested in new materials to improve the service provided to the customer, making the postman’s job easier and also being more environmentally friendly: 450 Postman’s walk sorting machines will be phased in throughout France, including 150 in 2007. 12,000 specially adapted bicycles to make distribution easier will be introduced from now until the end of the year, 400 electric bicycles will be provided from November and electric vehicles are currently being tested in Paris and Bordeaux.

In edition, in the area of services for personnel, Raymond Redding announced the provision of PDAs for postmen, pocket computers to improve customer service (for example electronic signatures for registered letters) and GPS systems in postman’s vehicles. Trailed in Auvergne from this autumn, and following two separate trials in Meuse-Champagne-Ardenne and in Pas-de-Calais, it will be gradually extended to all postmen. A worldwide tender opportunity will be launched in 2007 to equip the 100,000 postmen and postwomen.

200 million euros will be invested in new, larger, more functional and better equipped premises to respond to the needs of postmen but also responding to customers by providing better access to post boxes. Where possible, distribution sites are set-up away from town centres to reduce disturbance to residents.

300 million euros will be invested in the creation of new roles for postmen. They will benefit from more than 20,000 promotions. They will be given new roles, such as postal delivery quality officer or team leader as a result of 200,000 training days.

The La Poste group is also improving the postmen and postwomen’s uniform. The uniform is more practical, more modern and better adapted to the different seasons and includes fair trade cotton items. Also, in the 2007 collection there is more emphasis on protection and safety, and overall a more modern look. Furthermore, in the light of the success in 2006, the range of items made with fair trade cotton is increasing and ties in with the desire of La Poste to base its policies on sustainable development.

Finally, on the 16th November, the second volume of “Postmen in France” will be available at 1,000 outlets, in libraries and on the website www.laposte.fr.

This range of investments and measures all help to strengthen the role of the postman at the core of the economic and social life of the country.

This extensive modernisation programme of the role of postmen rounds off the Postal Quality Course programme, launched almost two years ago. It’s important to note that this unprecedented extensive programme coupled with an investment budget of 3.4 million euros aims to make the La Poste group the leading European postal service by 2010.