Tag: South America

Brazilian Postal Workers on Strike over Danger Allowance

Posted by | Jul 2, 2008 | |

Postal workers of a Brazilian state-owned company have gone on strike in a dispute over the payment of a danger allowance.

There is confusion over exactly how many postmen have joined the industrial action, with their union claiming 80 percent and employer Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telegrafos (ECT) saying it was just 30 percent.

The dispute centers on the state-owned company’s refusal to fulfill an agreement to pay postmen a danger allowance of 30 percent of their wages, signed in Nov. 2007.

The workers’ union claims the terms of the agreement, which was ratified this year by Helio Costa, Brazil’s minister of communications, has not been honored.

However, ECT says it cannot “legally” pay postmen a danger allowance, as the occupation is not entitled to such payments under Brazilian work regulations.

Under pressure, though, ECT has created a special external activities allowance and Monday paid 260 reais (about 162.5 U.S. dollars) to each employee. The union, however, demands that the company stick to the terms of the original agreement.

As a result of the strike, mail delivery is “the most affected sector” of the company, union representative Jose Goncalves de Almeida said. He added that 80 percent of workers from 22 of the country’s 26 states have downed tools.

But ECT claimed that only services offering guaranteed on-time delivery have been “suspended as a precaution.”

The striking workers also demanded a revision of the company’s career and profit sharing plans. They complained that the union has been left out of negotiations on the current plans, which are “not favorable” to them.

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Estafeta adds two planes to cargo fleet

Posted by | Jun 16, 2008 | |

Mexican express operator Estafeta is expanding its fleet of cargo planes by adding two Bombardier CRJ jets with capacity of five tonnes, Mexican media reported.

The two new planes will operate on the routes from its San Luis Potosí hub to the northern cities of La Paz and Ciudad Juárez and on the east-west Villahermosa-Guadalajara route. They will replace smaller aircraft previously operated by third-party contractors.

The company’s operations director, Ricardo Becerril, stated that the two additional aircraft would enable it to carry larger shipments over longer distances, while also reducing the number of flights. The express operator currently has a fleet of five B737 cargo planes, which capacity of about 14 tonnes, flying to 12 destinations within Mexico and abroad.

Estafeta said that the two new aircraft were part of this year’s ongoing USD 30 million (EUR 19 million) investment in its air network and infrastructure. The bulk of the investment will go on a runway extension at its hub at San Luis Potosí in central Mexico that will enable international flight operations. Estafeta also plans to add a third small cargo plane, to open a new centre in Mexico City and inaugurate additional sites in Toluca, Morelia, Leon and Guadalajara.

“Although these are times of uncertainty, we are doing everything possible to maintain our programme of investment,” director general José Antonio Armendáriz was cited as saying. “We have always believed that at times of difficulties, investment supports job creation and contributes to the competitiveness of the country.”

Estafeta increased net sales by 13 pct to USD 250 million and carried 25 million shipments in 2007. It is targeting 15 pct revenue growth this year, partly to be generated through a new LTL trucking service covering Mexico and the USA.

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UPU and Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP) strengthen their ties

Posted by | Jun 4, 2008 | |

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP), through the Declaration of Santo Domingo, urge the countries of Latin America to undertake postal sector reform.

The postal sector in Latin America, made up of public operators and a large number of private enterprises, is highly fragmented. With UPU assistance, postal sector reform has now been launched in nine Latin American countries, starting off with Costa Rica in 2005.

The integrated postal reform and development plans (IPDPs) replace an approach based solely on the restructuring of the public postal operator. These national plans, which take particular account of the universal postal service and of the regulatory and legal framework, provide for the whole sector. Since 2007, Latin America also has a regional development plan aimed at coordinating the activities of the various postal sector stakeholders.

At the regional conference of government authorities responsible for supervising the postal sector in the PUASP member countries, held in Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep.) on 22 and 23 May 2008, UPU Director General Edouard Dayan and PUASP Secretary General Serrana Bassini casci reiterated their commitment to cooperate in the development and good governance of the postal sector.

In a joint declaration signed by 22 of the region’s countries and territories, the UPU and PUASP encourage those countries which have not yet formulated an IPDP to do so, in conjunction with the UPU.

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Foster's and DHL Express join forces

Posted by | Jun 4, 2008 | |

Foster’s Food Fair IGA and DHL Express have entered into a strategic partnership, which enables the courier company to offer its services at The Strand branch of the supermarket chain.

The partnership, which came into effect Friday, 30 May, will provide an alternative drop location to DHL’s office in Mary Street, according to a press release. In addition, the arrangement will increase the variety of services offered to the supermarket’s customers.

Kevin Loughery, Marketing Supervisor with the supermarket, explained to Cayman Net News that the decision “enhances the one-stop-shop experience for customers”.

He explained the rationale behind the partnership was “to give the population of Cayman better access to services and to broaden and extend our customer base”.

DHL Country Manager Simon Fenn said in the press release he was excited at the partnership that “expands our reach and provides better access to our services for our customers”.

Mr Loughery pointed out that the arrangement with DHL brings to four the number of major business partners with which Foster’s currently works. The supermarket started increasing services to customers in the 1990s by entering into partnerships with various providers.

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DHL plans to make importing easier

Posted by | May 20, 2008 | |

DHL Express has launched a new campaign to drive growth for DHL Import Express Worldwide, a door–to–door import service solution aimed at simplifying the importing process for its millions of customers.

Import Express Worldwide offers an all inclusive package that combines speed, reliability, and service, states a press release. DHL makes importing simple.

DHL Caribbean’s first fully integrated campaign, it will run from May to December and will include print, interactive, radio advertisements, as well as direct mailers.

The new programme is efficient, reliable and convenient. It is an import service solution that simplifies all import procedures and offers customers a one–stop–shopping solution that manages everything from the logistics and process of an import order to customs clearance. It is the ideal solution for the precision manufacturing, automotive and media industries, among others.

With DHL Import Express Worldwide, the Cayman Islands’ customers can now enjoy the benefits of a have to come expect from DHL Express.

That level of customer service is exemplified in many ways including a dedicated customer service centre where importers have access to a group of have to come expect from DHL Express.

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