Global Hot Spots
Global Hot Spots are a compilation of issues and events affecting international mail deliveries worldwide.
International Mail Service Disruptions
Thursday, September 20, 2007
BRAZIL | The Brazil Postal Service strike was settled Thursday, September 20, 2007 and all operations have resumed and are back to normal delivery. The Post had been on strike since September 13, 2007 with limited postal centers servicing the country. As mentioned, the Brazil Postal Service went on strike September 13, 2007. The workers are asking for a 47.77% pay raise, safety pay and for better working conditions. A total of 12,000 postmen, 1,000 cargo handlers and 386 drivers are on strike. The figure represents 20% of the post office's total workforce.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
UNITED KINGDOM | Please refer to our Press Room for historical information on CWU strikes.
Monday, May 14, 2007
SOMALIA | All international mail services are suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
ASCENSION ISLANDS | USPS Priority Mail International services have been suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
CUBA | Priority Mail International is suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
GUINEA-BISSAU | USPS International Surface Air Lift and M Bag Service has been suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Afghanistan | USPS International Surface Air Lift Service has been suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
East Timor | Priority Mail International and M-Bag service is suspended.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Falkland Islands | USPS Global Airmail Parcel Post shipments have been suspended.
Restricted U.S. Mail Service in the following countries
Monday, May 14, 2007
NORTH KOREA | Service is limited to First-Class Mail International service (including postcards, postal cards, and matter for the blind). All merchandise is prohibited.
General Complications
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
BELGIUM | Farmers, truckers and taxi drivers are staging protests over high fuel prices on 18 June 2008, a day ahead of a scheduled EU summit. They have used their vehicles to block roads leading to Brussels, which has caused significant traffic disruptions, particularly on the city's inner ring road. Convoys of vehicles are converging in the central part of the city. Police cordons have been erected around the EU headquarters, and the security presence is high.
Monday, June 16, 2008
CHINA | With the upcoming Olympics in Beijing this August, shipments to China will occur weekly as space on airlines will be very tight. Southern China: Widespread flooding in southern China on June 16 has affected transportation within the region as they brace for more heavy rain. The aftermath of the May earthquake in China in the Sichuan province is still affecting transportation; and delays are expected to continue. China continues to receive mail from the USPS for this region as well as all other postal operators with the receiving country postal administration making determination for final delivery.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
POLAND | Trade unions of the Polish postal service, Poczta Polska, suspended their strike on June 11 after nine days of protest. An agreement was reached over wage disputes. Normal delivery of mail will resume and there will be some backlog of mail due to the strike.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
SPAIN | Spanish truck drivers, on an indefinite strike since Friday, June 6 protesting against rising fuel prices, has been suspended after the government agreed to tax and tool reductions. Inbound and outbound mail will resume but delays should be expected due to backlog of mail.
Monday, June 02, 2008
URUGUAY | A Customs employee strike on June 2 has affected trucks at bridges and borders between Uruguay and Argentina. The work stoppage was lifted on June 3 and negotiations are expected to begin on June 5. Delays may occur to final mail delivery.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
NORWAY | The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the national airport agency Avinor have reached an agreement to end a debilitating strike that more than 400 ground staff, union and aviation officials observed at numerous airports nationwide. Avinor has agreed to a significant salary increase; airports are expected to resume normal operations by late 21 May 2008. The strike began on 16 May and initially affected five airports, but union officials later expanded the labor action to cover 12 airports. It may take up to several days for operations to fully return to normal.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NETHERLANDS | Postal company TNT has invited postal workers' unions to meet on Friday, May 23 in an effort to end the impasse over their wage demands. The invitation comes on the second day of a new series of industrial action, which began yesterday in The Hague and affects Nieuwegein today. TNT hopes the unions will attend the meeting to try and break deadlock. The CNV union says it would be impolite to turn down an invitation. 'We'll see how far we get,' a spokesman told the AD, adding that industrial action will continue until Friday. Postal workers want a rise of 3.5% in wages this year. TNT is offering 1.5% this year and another 1.5% in 2009. A 30-hour general strike is planned for May 28.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
FRANCE | French postal workers, hospital employees, customs officials and local and national civil servants walked off their jobs May 15th to protest government plans to reduce personell by not replacing retiring civil servants. The French government plans to cut some 58,000 posts from all public sector payrolls by the end of 2009. Trade union officials have threatened to carry the movement into the fall if the government does not respond to their demands.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
YANGON, Myanmar | Mail Service disruptions may be expected for an indefinite period of time due to Cyclone Nargis, the country's deadliest storm on record.
Friday, May 02, 2008
TRINIDAD and TOBAGO | TTPOST’s workers have been staging an industrial action against TTPOST since May 1. Postal operations have become affected and service delays are to be expected.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
GERMANY | The unlimited strike action, that was set to begin on April 30, was prevented by a last minute resolution between the trade union Verdi and Deutsche Post. A series of limited strikes at mail sorting centres throughout Germany since April 19 has left large volumes of letters and bulk mail undelivered. Normal service has resumed but backlog of mail still exists and may take several days to clear.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AUSTRALIA | Due to an overload of mail and packages to Australia since the 2007 holiday season to the present, the USPS® announced that they are experiencing service delays. Airlines and freight carriers are also experiencing lift problems and shipment delays for mail and parcels shipped via alternative services other than the USPS® may also be affected. Contact your Pitney Bowes Account Executive to discuss alternative service options in preparation of your next mailing to Australia. Pitney Bowes International Mail Services will keep you informed of further developments. Also, check back to our website