By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
ABOUT a quarter of Geelong’s licensed post offices have joined a class action claiming underpayment for an “enormous” increase in parcel deliveries.
Some of the local franchisees said the existing arrangements with Australia Post threatened their businesses.
They declined to be indentified in the Independent because of contractual arrangements with Australia Post.
But they backed the class action, which the Licensed Post Office Group initiated on behalf of 500 members over remuneration for parcel deliveries and decreasing ordinary mail volumes.
Group spokesperson Angela Cramp, who runs post offices in northern New South Wales, said some franchisees faced bankruptcy.
“Some are better able to manage the situation than others. I have three busy post offices and we are serving 1200 people a week and yet I can’t pay my staff.
“With the way Australia Post pays us, the busier you are, the more money you lose.”
Ms Cramp said the main issue was an “enormous” increase in parcel deliveries for little extra income.
Franchisees were dealing with parcels for six to eight hours a day for $20 or $40 more a week, she said.
“Franchisees are subsidising Australia Post. They’re spending money on these mail-sorting machines that take longer to deliver the mail by a roundabout route and the money is coming out of the pockets of small business owners.”
Ms Cramp said the class action was ready to launch but the group would give the new federal Coalition Government an opportunity to investigate the issue.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said she was concerned at the financial pressures on some franchisees.
“Licensed post offices are small businesses and provide an important service as well as jobs to so many communities. Licenced post offices must be profitable to survive and prosper.
“I attended a briefing with Australia Post this week. It’s clear many licenced post offices around the country are in trouble.
“The recently announced senate inquiry will provide an important opportunity for the post office operators to give evidence and have their say.”
Ms Henderson said she would make representations to Australia Post on behalf of any post office owner in Corangamite.
She has previously criticised the Australia Post’s decision to reroute mail on a 200km round trip to Dandenong for sorting before returning to Geelong for delivery.
