Stoush over NZ Post’s new electric vehicles

New four-wheel postal delivery buggies are putting posties and the public at risk, unions representing postal workers claim.

New Zealand Post sent a lawyer’s letter to the Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa (PWUA) demanding it retracts criticisms about Paxster electric vehicles which posties will have to use, Stuff reports.

NZ Post says criticisms made to media about the Paxsters are “misleading” and an act of “bad faith” by the union, given the ongoing negotiations about the Paxster’s introduction.

It will be “vigorously defending” itself around its Paxster purchase and employment dispute issues at mediation.
But PWUA spokesman John Maynard insists the union allegations are accurate. These include claims they could cause posties neck and back strains and that Paxsters are footpath hogs and it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian is hurt.

NZ Post declines to comment on the union’s claims, but its central and southern operations general manager Matt Riordan says it will be “defending [itself] vigorously” at mediation with the unions, Stuff says.

In April, the postal workers’ union and E tu’s combined 2100 postal workers are undergoing urgent mediation with NZ Post over issues with the Norwegian made buggies from Paxster AS.

About 500 Paxsters will be rolled out, costing $15 million over the next two years.
Health and safety requirements around the buggies were not adequately addressed before NZ Post began to deploy the first Paxsters, Maynard says.

He says a Paxster alternative, the Swiss-made Kyburz, remains popular with posties.

E tu national industry organiser Joe Gallagher says: “We want an outcome that works for everyone.”