Delivery Delays and Work Overload After the Closure of Correos in El Cotillo
The recent closure of the Correos office in El Cotillo has raised significant concerns regarding the future of public postal services in Fuerteventura. This closure, which officially took place on June 15, followed the retirement of the sole employee who managed the office, and it has triggered a torrent of implications for the local community.
The Alarm Bells Ringing
Carlos González, the representative from Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) at Correos, has voiced serious alarms about the situation. In an interview with La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular, he mentioned that the closure of the El Cotillo office might not be an isolated incident. He hinted at the possibility of further reductions in postal services across the island, saying, “Possibly they have more closures on the table.”
This concern stems from the precarious nature of the service, which was being provided from the employee’s home. With no backup plan in place to ensure continued public access to postal services, the abrupt closure has left many residents scrambling.
The Strain on Resources
Since the closure, postal delivery in El Cotillo has shifted to a single worker stationed in Lajares. This employee now has the daunting task of covering not just their usual route but also Majanicho, El Roque, and El Cotillo. González highlighted the scale of this challenge, mentioning that these areas collectively serve around 3,600 residents. As a result, significant delays have emerged, with mail now taking anywhere from 10 to 20 days to be delivered. Frustrated residents from El Cotillo and El Roque have even resorted to visiting the delivery unit to pick up their post.
Workforce Overload
González has attributed the deteriorating service quality directly to under-staffing and the resulting overburdening of existing workers. “You’re asking one person to do the work that two used to handle,” he criticized. This issue is not only localized but extends throughout the province and even nationwide, with a glaring deficiency in the number of required postal workers.
Currently, it’s estimated that around 80 postal workers are necessary for adequate service in Fuerteventura. However, González reported that the actual number has shrunk to between 50 and 60. Compounding this problem, he noted a decline in summer hiring projections for Las Palmas, which could exacerbate the situation during peak holiday seasons when many employees take time off.
A Call for Patience and Accountability
With many Correos employees taking summer vacations from July 1 onward and no new hiring planned, González urged the public to remain patient with delivery and customer service personnel. However, he also stressed the importance of holding the management at Correos accountable for the growing issues plaguing the service.
Underlying Concerns and Future Implications
Javier González Arencibia, a former Correos employee from 1977 to 2013, shared insights into a broader strategy behind the service deterioration. “They’ve wanted to privatize everything, and this is a way to generate excuses to justify that privatization,” he argued. Both González and Arencibia agreed that Correos must remain a fundamental public service, especially given the considerable rural populations in Fuerteventura, where 80% of deliveries occur in less populated areas.
The risk of privatization looms larger for these remote areas as private enterprises are typically not inclined to service regions deemed non-profitable.
A Social Debate
For CCOO, the conversation is not merely about economic viability; it’s about social responsibility. “A public service shouldn’t aim for profit but should serve the needs of the community,” asserted González. The union is gearing up for what they describe as a “hot summer and unique fall,” indicating forthcoming mobilizations to advocate for the essential nature of postal services in the region.
In summary, the closure of the Correos office in El Cotillo has not only disrupted postal services but also ignited a conversation about the integrity and sustainability of public services in Fuerteventura. With significant implications for both residents and employees, the urgency for systemic change has never been more pronounced.
