UNI Global Union is the global union federation for the skills and services sector. On 25 October 2018, the UNI Global Union signed a first cooperation agreement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – an intergovernmental organization and specialized agency of the UN. The UPU comprises 192 member countries and is the principal cooperation forum for actors in the postal sector, which works to enable a true global network in terms of products and services. Being a UN agency, the UPU’s aim is to promote global socio-economic growth and assist its members to contribute to achieving the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
This cooperation agreement was renewed on 6 July 2022.
The latest agreement and its first annex (see attachments) seek to promote a smooth transition for postal workers and social dialogue with their union representatives amid the business diversification of postal services, to foster the protection and improvement of workers’ rights and employment conditions against the backdrop of climate change, and to support gender equality and the empowerment of women within the postal sector. In the annexes, the parties set out some potential deliverables.
This agreement will remain in force until 31 December 2024.
See the following press releases issued by the two signatory organizations:
Signing of Cooperation Agreement with UNI Global Union, October 2018 (upu.int)
UNI Global Union had previously developed partnerships with various regional entities of the UPU.
- Cooperation agreement between UNI Americas and the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal
In 2019, UNI Americas renewed a long-standing agreement with the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP) – a regional structure of the UPU that brings together the public authorities and the postal operators responsible for ensuring the universal postal service. The parties to the agreement commit to collectively promote social dialogue and guarantee the sustainable development of postal services in the Americas. See the following UNI Global Union press release on the agreement:
- UNI Global Union and the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), a regional structure of the UPU, organize joint training seminars for young trade union representatives. See a recent case study of this cooperation:
UNI Apro-APPU Joint Seminar, 30 July-1 Aug, Bangkok | UNI Global Union
Cooperation agreements also exist between UNI Global Union and the postal unions of the Mediterranean (EuroMed Postal) and Africa (PAPU – the Pan African Postal Union).