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: 10 Dec., 2010 Postal Date Impact Country Of Issue H,M,L Summary and Cause of Issue

Barbados 5 Nov. H Barbados Postal Service will be closed for business on 3 November, owing to the State Funeral of the late Prime Minister of Barbados.

Brazil Customs Agency is applying special customs control measures in respect of inbound international items. Under these special Brazil 24 Sept. H measures, a large number of parcels are opened by the Brazilian customs authorities, which increases the period during which they are made available for customs control and, consequently, their delivery time. An indefinite public sector strike begun on 7 December which is affecting Customs and other services is causing delays in the processing of Chile 10 Dec. H international inbound postal items.

El Salvador 10 Sept. H Owing to a public transport strike begun on 7 September, postal operations were until the strike ended on 10 September.

Finland's Post (Itella) has said that mail deliveries in the country are returning to normal after a number of Finnish postal workers at the Finland 19 Nov. H company have been on prolonged strike over pay. Most mail deliveries will return to normal throughout Finland this week. Posti has advised that mail deliveries in Finland had been disrupted by a strike action by delivery and sorting workers, further compounded by a ban on overtime by some employees throughout the week. Mail deliveries were delayed throughout Finland and the situation varied 29 Oct. H according to area and day, making it impossible to provide location-specific forecasts. In addition, any backlog experienced could extend for several days. Mail to and from France will see further delays as another nationwide strike action was held on 19 October in the escalating protest against France 22 Oct. H planned pension reforms. For the fourth time this month public sector workers, including staff at La Poste, will strike on 12 October in response to the government’s 15 Oct. H plans to rise the retirement age in France to 62. Another general national strike by French trade unions on 23 September with strikes and street protests caused widespread disruption to rail, 24 Sept. H air and urban transport, schools and postal services, much more severely than with the huge turnout in demonstrations on Sept. 7. Hellenic Police and the Civil Aviation Authority declared an embargo from 2-4 November on mail transportation for outbound international Greece 5 Nov. H mail and domestic flights for security reasons.

8 Oct H Greece's Association of Civil Servants held a 24-hour strike on 7 October cancelling all public sector activities for the day.

An Post has advised that, owing to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, there will be some delays in the delivery of mail items. The Ireland 10 Dec. H bad weather is leaving many roads impassable for postal vehicles. An Post expects the weather and the delivery situation to improve by 6 December. Malaysia Post has advised of disruption to mail operations, and possible delays in the delivery of postal items, as a result of heavy rains and Malaysia 12 Nov. H flooding since 1 November 2010. The following postcode areas are affected: 01000 to 02700, 05000 to 06999, 07000, 08000, 09000 and 15000. Dutch postal workers began a three-day strike on 8 December to protest plans by mail and express delivery company TNT NV to slash Netherlands 10 Dec. H 11,000 jobs. A strike by Dutch trade unions on 25 and 26 November caused disruption to mail services throughout the country. 26 Nov. H

Postal Impact Key H = High M = Moderate L = Low ©1992-2008 Direct Link™ Page 1 of 2 Delivery staff at Dutch mail group TNT on 16 November held a nationwide postal strike over job cuts and further strikes are planned for 25- 19 Nov. H 26 November. A 24-hour general nationwide strike protesting the government's austerity policies largely paralyzed Portugal on 24 November. Portugal 26 Nov. H

Saint Lucia Postal Service is now fully operational. However, owing to damage to some major road infrastructure, there will still be delays in Saint Lucia 12 Nov. H mail delivery to some areas.

5 Nov. H Postal operations in Saint Lucia have been suspended on 2 November owing to a state of emergency due to Hurricane Tomas.

Workers of the Sierra Leone Postal Services (Salpost) began an indefinite strike on 30 November refusing to go to work, demanding Sierra Leone 3 Dec. H payment of their 24-month salary arrears and a general salary increase.

Spain 1 Oct. H Workers throughout Spain held a 24-hour general strike on 29 September.

Thailand Post has advised countries that the situation is now back to normal in a number of areas. Mail operations, including delivery of Thailand 12 Nov. H postal items, have resumed in the following postcode areas: 15xxx, 17xxx, 20xxx - 23xxx, 25xxx, 27xxx, 35xxx - 37xxx, 46xxx, 49xxx, 52xxx - 53xxx, 62xxx - 67xxx, 77xxx, 91xxx and 96xxx. Thailand Post has advised of continuing disruption to mail operations, and possible delays in the delivery of postal items, resulting from 5 Nov. H heavy rains and flash flooding caused by a tropical depression since 31 October. In addition to those areas listed previously, the following postcode areas are now also affected: 77xxx, 80xxx, 84xxx, and 86xxx, 90xxx, 91xxx, 92xxx, 93xxx, 94xxx, 95xxx and 96xxx. The flooding which occurred last week has spread to other parts of the country, and is still resulting in delays in the delivery of mail items 29 Oct. H throughout the country. In addition to the postcode areas listed previously the following areas are also now affected: 11xxx-12xxx, 21xxx- 23xxx, 31xxx-37xxx, 46xxx, 49xxx, 52xxx-53xxx and 61xxx-64xxx. Heavy monsoon rains and flooding throughout the country are disrupting mail delivery of items to the following postcode: 13xxx, 14xxx, 22 Oct. H 15xxx, 16xxx, 17xxx, 18xxx, 20xxx, 25xxx, 27xxx, 30xxx, 60xxx, 65xxx, 66xxx and 67xxx. Uruguay Post has advised that the strike of the National Customs Administration which began on 22 November has ended on 2 December. Uruguay 10 Dec. H Normal mail service processes will be resumed by 3 December. Uruguay Post has advised that owing to another industrial action by officials of the National Customs Administration on 22 November all 26 Nov. H international mail services were suspended. Uruguay Post has advised that owing to another industrial action by officials of the National Customs Administration on 6 and 7 October all 8 Oct. H international mail services were suspended.