The Czech Post may start providing its employees with new uniforms from the early 2012, following the Czech anti-monopoly office (ÚOHS) dismissal of an appeal filed by unsuccessful bidders in a 2010 public tender. The new uniforms have a modern design and a much higher utility value. They will also mean an almost 17% less money spent by the Post on uniforms.

A happy ending

In April 2010 the Post announced a public tender for new uniforms, for an expected CZK 240 million, to be spent gradually over the course of four years. A bid came from seven out of the 29 contacted prospective bidders. Four bidders were disqualified for non-compliance with the bidding criteria, which resulted into an appeal filed with the anti-monopoly office. The present dismissal of the appeal means that the complaints were unjustified. The good news allowed the Post to immediately proceed with the suspended tender, with general contracts with the three winners - KOUTNÝ spol. s r.o., XENA Praha, s.r.o. and BLAŽEK PRAHA, a.s. - being signed on 22 July.

The contractors may change in the course of the forthcoming four years: a general contract means that the Post will further contact all three winners with an annual request, with the best bid winning the contract for the year. It is already clear that this tender means that the Post will save a significant amount of money. Starting from 2012, the mandatory annual cost of uniforms should be less by at least CZK 12 million than the previous CZK 72 million.

Almost 22 thousand of employees to present new uniforms to customers 

The Czech Post has 21,750 employees entitled to a free uniform, including counter clerks, delivery personnel, postmasters and certain operations professions. New uniforms are designed to better meet current trends, with higher-quality materials that are more comfortable and pleasant to wear. "The design and materials of presently used uniforms have been chosen a decade ago. Employees working mostly outdoors need higher-quality clothing most. The new outdoor collection has been designed using materials that will make their tough work they do in every weather easier. A change has already been necessary and, most importantly, our people simply deserve better-quality clothing," said Petr Zatloukal, Czech Post's Director General.

The change will be run in several stages, with all employees getting a new uniform within the forthcoming three years.

Modernization of the Post: A wider aspect

The change of uniforms is a part of a Czech Post changes its face project. The Post started the project last year with a substantial transformation of some of its branches. By the end of 2011, dozens of new-style branches are to follow the first one in Dolní Břežany, opened in October 2010. The new design is based on modules of furniture and equipment, which can be flexibly modified to fit the needs of each branch. Simply put, while the materials are cheaper and technical solutions simpler, the final effect on the customers is clearly positive. "In terms of uniforms, our people will at last get clothing that matches current trends. The Post is changing its face, with 48 new-style branches to come by the end of this year: they will be cost-efficient while using the space more efficiently and being more comfortable for customers. The same applies to uniforms: they are modern with a much higher utility value. The new uniforms will save us at least CZK 12 million per year," concluded Zatloukal.

Services are essential

A change in parcel services, with an entire range of more comfortable additional services, is expected to bring a real revolution. The Post will present the package of new services this autumn.

Around 50 new-style branches are to follow in 2012. The following post offices are among those to be modernized this year:

Post Offices in Plumlov, Dolany u Olomouce, Dolní Benešov, Brno 2, Rousínov, Plzeň - Hypermarket Globus, České Budějovice 2, Žamberk, Nová Paka, Říčany, Poděbrady 2, Prague - Shopping Mall Fénix, Prague-Barrandov.

Mgr. Marta Selicharová
Spokeswoman
Czech Post
selicharova.marta@cpost.cz

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