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.
The public Norwegian postal and courier service Posten announced in December 2018 that 300 jobs will be cut in Bergen, Trondheim, Molde, Stavanger and Stokke. The job cuts are due to a reduction in postal mail; therefore, Posten has decided to centralise and relocate this service to Lørenskog and reduce the service to take place only on Saturdays. The company has announced these plans of relocation and downsizing before, but the downsizing was expected only 2-3 years ahead in time. The Press Officer states that digitalization and the rapid fall in postal mail makes it urgent to implement measures of downsizing already in 2019.
The Postkom trade union shop steward for the district was surprised that the announcement came right before Christmas, and stated that this might illustrate the urgency of the company. The Press Officer for Posten also stated in a press release that he understands that the announcement creates reactions, but that it is better to be open about the upcoming downsizing as early as possible. The trade union Postkom has also expressed worries about the employees that are above 55 years of age and their pensions. There are no concrete plans of job reduction measures.
This is not the first downsizing of Posten. In 2016, 550 jobs were lost due to changes in postal and courier services.
Eurofound (2018), Posten, Relocation in Norway, factsheet number 96205, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/96205.