When the doorbell rings in the morning during the week, the postman is usually in front of the house. This is still the case in times of the corona virus. Because although almost all shops are closed, the post office remains open. In this way, basic services are maintained.
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But this means that Pöstler risk being infected every day. That is why the workers’ union demands that the delivery staff can avoid contact with customers. If this is not possible, the Federal Council is required to issue a deadline. This would mean that registered letters would no longer be delivered, the Syndicom union wrote in a media release.
Ask for permission and sign it yourself
The union’s demands are met with open ears at the post office: from now on, the postman himself signs for the reception. “In practice, the postman rings the customer’s door and asks for permission to sign the registered letter or the delivery itself,” explains a media spokesman. This is legally tenable, since an oral permission is obtained.
If you want to sign yourself, you can continue to do so. You just have to use your own pen. “The mailers hold the scanner and the customers sign with their own pen, so that any viruses are not transmitted from customer to customer and not to Swiss Post employees.” However, it should be pointed out that in this case it is probably not possible to keep enough distance between the customer and the mailer.
According to the union, this is contradictory: “Health protection must not be played off against primary care,” says Syndicom media spokesman Christian Capacoel to 20 minutes. It is incomprehensible that, in case of doubt, the health of the population and the Pöstler are put at risk. The Federal Council had to take necessary security measures.
Switches should close temporarily
Not only the post office workers are exposed to the risk of infection, the employees of the post offices are also insufficiently protected, as Syndicom continues. “Many concerned employees have contacted us and complained that they are insufficiently protected and left alone,” said Capacoel.
The union is therefore calling for post offices that cannot meet the health standards of the Federal Office of Health to be temporarily closed. This means post offices that have no windows at the counter.
Lines on the bottom and plexiglass
Swiss Post has already taken the first measures: On Wednesday morning, post offices with open counters were temporarily closed. During this time, lines were placed in front of and behind the counters: if the customer is close to the counter, the postal worker steps behind the line and vice versa. “This is how social distancing can be maintained,” explains a post spokesman.
Plexiglass panels would also have been installed on open counters since Wednesday. The installation of the devices has started and will now be continued gradually. The union is angry about this approach: “The branches that are not sufficiently equipped must be closed – it is uncertain whether plexiglass panes are sufficient,” says Capacoel from Syndicom. This is the only way to protect employees sufficiently.
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