Austrian Post to Inform Municipalities About Closing Post Offices

From next week onwards, the Austrian Post will inform the municipalities concerned about the closing of post offices, said reports on Friday.

On ORF radio, Austrian Post General Secretary Viktoria Kickinger spoke of an “optimisation of the existing branch network”. There was no reason to maintain branch offices that were not frequented by customers, she indicated.

In the long run, more than the 350 to 400 post offices presently under discussion could be closed down, Kickinger said. About 1,000 of the 1,640 post offices were “not really profitable”.

According to reports by regional media and members of the opposition, two of the biggest Austrian provinces – Lower Austria and Upper Austria – were the ones to be affected the most. From March to June of 2005, about 100 post offices in Lower Austria and 80 in Upper Austria were to be closed down.

Alternative solutions including little shops taking over the services of post offices or points to receive and send mail at municipal offices were to be offered, said the reports.

“This is not a wave of closures”, Kickinger stressed. Activities of the Austrian Post were, however, transferred to places where they were really desired.

Economics Ministers Martin Bartenstein of the conservative People’s Party (VP) criticised the plans of the Austrian Post. Another “wave of closures of post offices” was not reasonable for the people and for the rural areas, Bartenstein said on ORF radio on Saturday.

The Minister added he did not want to make any threats. The Austrian Post should, however, know in how far it benefitted from the monopoly to convey letters.

Austrian Post General Secretary Kickinger reacted to Bartenstein’s statement saying the monopoly was “constantly shrinking” anyway.

Infrastructure Minister Hubert Gorbach of the Freedom Party (FP) called on the management of the Austrian Post for “intelligent alternative solutions” and the use of “synergy potentials”.

Opposition Social Democrat (SP) Federal Manager Norbert Darabos said Bartenstein’s insight that a second wave of closures was not reasonable came “pretty late”. Greens spokeswoman Gabriela Moser spoke of a “proof of the government’s shortcomings”.