FRANCE: AMF CRITICISES LA POSTE
The president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF) has sent a letter to the Prime Minister to protest the temporary closure of several tens of La Poste’s offices and postal agencies, particularly in rural areas. According to a variety of sources, over 20 La Poste offices will be closed in the Haute-Savoie departement, and 19 of the 151 post offices will be closed in the Lot-et-Garonne departement. The AMF says that La Poste, which has not recruited seasonal personnel in order to cover the positions of employees who have left on summer holidays, is not fulfilling its postal public service assignment. According to the AMF, these measures are part of a widespread savings scheme. Certain sources say that La Poste loses FFr 100mn per month because of a 2.8% drop in mail activity, and because of the impact of the reduction in work time. La Poste points out that having post offices open daily is not part of its public service obligation, unlike daily mail distribution.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group
LES ECHOS, 31st July 2001
