Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Oesterreichische Post, a large Austrian postal service provider, is to cut at least 800-900 jobs annually across the country in 2010 and the following years. This was announced by Mr Pölzl, director general of the company, of which the state has a majority share, on 16 March 2010. In 2009, 1081 jobs were already cut (see factsheet). At the end of last year, Österreichische Post employed 26,000 workers, 21,600 of them in Austria.
In view of the erosion of sales and revenue due to competition from e-mail, downward pricing pressures in the parcel business and the impending competition from private providers (after the expiration of the Post's monopoly on letter delivery up to 50g in 2011) Mr Pölzl emphasised the need to reduce the costs and improve efficiency.
Annually, about 2,500 employers leave the company due to natural turnover. In 2009, 470 employees accepted the provided social plan which offered up to 45 months' salaries.
For 2010, the regrouping of employees from the postal provider to the police, which started in 2009, is being encouraged. Currently, 150 staff members have switched from the Austrian Post to the police due to a staff shortage there. The management envisages that up to 500 of their employees are willing to switch to the police. Currently, a further 500 Post employees have been temporarily released though some of them are occasionally provided with work.
Eurofound (2010), Österreichische Post, Internal restructuring in Austria, factsheet number 70305, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/70305.