The negotiations covered 98 of Posti's outlets. Of these, 21 outlets will be managed by Posti, while negotiations will be held concerning 77 outlets to be transferred to partners between the years 2015 and 2018. The number of service points will be increased by one hundred new service points, with the number growing to 1,500 in the next few years.

During the negotiations, the need for layoffs was reduced to 319 (380) employees. The changes will be made one outlet at a time as the negotiations with the partners proceed. The changes will take place over the next two and a half years, with the first changes estimated for August 2015 at the earliest. The Posti outlets will serve customers as normal until the changes; customers will be notified of future changes well in advance.

In the future, the following outlets will be managed by Posti:

1. 00100 Helsinki (city center/main post office)
2. 00120 Helsinki (Annankatu)
3. 00130 Helsinki (Kasarmitori)
4. 00510 Helsinki (Vallila)
5. 00530 Helsinki (Hakaniemi)
6. 00880 Helsinki (Herttoniemi industrial area)
7. 01300 Vantaa (Tikkurila)
8. 02100 Espoo (Tapiola)
9. 15100 Lahti (Saksalankatu)
10. 20100 Turku (Eerikinkatu)
11. 28100 Pori (Yrjönkatu)
12. 33100 Tampere (Rautatienkatu)
13. 40100 Jyväskylä (Vapaudenkatu)
14. 45100 Kouvola (Kauppamiehenkatu)
15. 50100 Mikkeli (Raatihuoneenkatu)
16. 53100 Lappeenranta (Kauppakatu)
17. 65100 Vaasa (Hovioikeudenpuistikko)
18. 70100 Kuopio (Kauppakatu)
19. 90100 Oulu (Hallituskatu)
20. 96100 Rovaniemi (Koskikatu)
21. 96930 Arctic Circle (Santa Claus' Main Post Office).

- We are developing our services on the basis of customer needs, by improving the accessibility of the services and taking all our different customer groups into account. It is important that each area has its own service point that meets the local needs and provides the services that the local inhabitants and businesses want. When evaluating service points, we have taken into account customer flows, customer structures, amounts of mail dispatched and received and the population density, explains Riku Kuusisto, Vice President of Posti's Retail Network.

Even after the changes, the number and locations of Posti's service points will continue to comply with the Finnish Postal Act.

More extensive opening hours and services brought closer to customers

The renewal of Posti's service network is based on customer research studies conducted over several years. According to a survey conducted by TNS Gallup, more than 70 per cent of Finns want Posti outlets to have the same opening hours as shops. Even before the changes, 90 per cent of all Posti outlets, nearly 800 in total, are already operating within Posti's partners.

- In the future, Posti can often be found closer to its customers. We are adding one hundred new service points in different parts of Finland. We will also improve the operation of our own outlets. In addition to personal service, many Posti services are also available online, Kuusisto states.

Kuusisto emphasizes that Posti takes pride in offering first-class services at all of Posti's service points. Everyone with responsibility for postal matters receives support and training.

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Source: Posti