Global Hot Spots a Weekly Update of Issues Affecting International Mail Deliveries

FedEx International MailService® Global Hot Spots A weekly update of issues affecting international mail deliveries REPORT DATE: 8 Dec., 2006 Postal Date Impact Country Of Issue H,M,L Summary and Cause of Issue Brazilian air traffic has been paralyzed for almost a week as flight controllers across the country have been taking unauthorized safety measures in the wake of the nation's worst air accident, a September collision that killed 154 people. As a result, dozens of flights have Brazil 3 Nov. M been canceled daily, and airports have become campsites for weary travelers. By 2 November, more than 600 flights were delayed by as many as 14 hours. A strike by Finnair cabin crews ended 20 October after the Finnish flight attendants' union and airline managers accepted a mediation Finland 20 Oct. M proposal by the state-appointed labor conciliator. The two-day strike, launched to protest the national carrier's hiring policy, grounded Finnair's international flights, forcing thousands of passengers to find alternative forms of transport. Up to 30 percent of French postal workers are on strike on 14 November to protest against a draft EU directive on the complete opening of France 17 Nov. H the European postal market to competition from 2009. Managers of Poland's state-owned post office sought to head off the threat of a nationwide strike by letter- carriers who are demanding a hefty pay rise. Mail deliveries in some of Poland's major cities have been Poland 24 Nov. H limited since 20 November amid walkouts by some of Poczta Polska letter carriers. Three labor unions that represent its 24,000 postal workers have threatened a nationwide strike demanding, among other things, a 40 percent pay increase. Letter carriers currently earn some 1,000 zlotys (US$330; euro250) per month. Transportation and distribution workers at Portugal's state-owned mail company CTT have staged a one-day strike on 4 December over job security issues, which a union official said would delay mail deliveries. The postal company said it would give priority to express and registered mail, as well as to the delivery of old-age pension checks and shipments of medicine, during the strike. Post offices were not affected. The strike was Portugal 8 Dec. H called to protest plans to shift its large-volume customers to another company called Mailtec. Union officials argue the measure would put between 300 and 400 jobs at risk. Postal workers at Portugal's three main sorting offices staged a weeklong series of stoppages during the last week of November over the same issue. Postal workers have called a general strike involving all departments for December 27. Staff at Portugal's three main postal sorting offices on 20 November began work stoppages which state- owned mail company CTT said could delay deliveries. The postal company said it would give priority to 24 Nov. H registered and express mail as well as to the delivery of old-age pension checks during the partial strike, which has been called over job security and is scheduled to last until 24 November. Somalia 14 Apr., H Continued civil unrest causes mail delivery outside major cities of the country to be difficult if not impossible to achieve. 1996 Postal Impact Key H = High M = Moderate L = Low ©1992-2005 Direct Link™ Page 1 of 2 Swiss Post plans for the restructuring of its post offices in 2007, which is expected to lead to between 400 and Switzerland 27 Oct. H 500 job cuts in the next two years. The first workers' protest called by Swiss trade unions has already taken place in Bern, Lugano and Lausanne. United A Royal Mail strike across London could be on the cards for Christmas after the Communication Workers 3 Nov H Kingdom Union agreed to ballot its 30,000 Royal Mail members in a dispute over wages for London postal workers. Postal Impact Key H=High M=Moderate L=Low Page 2 of 2 ©1992-2005 Direct Link ™.

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