Post-chaos in Vorarlberg: Union warns of intolerable working conditions!

Post-chaos in Vorarlberg: Union warns of intolerable working conditions!

In Vorarlberg, the new “Fidelio” delivery system, which Austrian Post AG has been implementing since March 2025, is causing a lot of excitement. The introduction of the system, which began in Bregenz, Dornbirn and Feldkirch, has resulted in massive work intensification for employees. They are not only confronted with longer working hours, but also with the risk that the quality of delivery will suffer, as the population is increasingly suffering from delayed mail and longer waiting times. Franz Mähr, the state chairman of the Vorarlberg postal union, comments in one Report from vol.at critical of the effects of the new system.

Of particular concern is the fact that on certain days, particularly Fridays, only some mail is delivered. The rest will remain until Tuesday at the earliest, which means that delivery drivers have to deliver twice the amount of packages on these days. Mähr reports that many employees often work over ten hours and have to deliver until late at night. At peak times, such as on days when pension payments are made, the system threatens to collapse. Despite the best economic results of the post office last year, the austerity measures that the post office is implementing show that there are apparently no economic benefits from “Fidelio”, which Mähr criticizes as incomprehensible. He also expressed concerns that the workload could have a negative impact on voter turnout.

Criticism of the implementation

Mähr reports that the postal management treated the staff representatives disrespectfully, who were not sufficiently involved in the planning of the system. The tense atmosphere in the delivery bases is causing some employees to consider leaving the company. The new distribution of work, combined with additional workload, is not acceptable for many. The criticism of “Fidelio” is therefore not only a reaction to the working conditions, but also to the way in which these changes were communicated and implemented.

In the current negotiations for employees, it is important to note that the rights and obligations of employers and employees are regulated by laws, collective agreements and works agreements. All employment contracts are bound to the existing labor law regulations. The staff representative plays a central role by negotiating company agreements that can benefit employees, as in Report from gpf.at explained.

Legal framework in the working environment

Labor law, which regulates all issues relating to employment relationships, considers both individual rights and collective relationships between employees and employers. For example, in individual labor law, regulations on rights and obligations are anchored in the employment contract and in the vacation law. Collective labor law, on the other hand, regulates the relationship between unions and employers and is largely determined by the Labor Constitution Act, which lays the foundations for collective agreements, as on the side of Federal Ministry of Labor and Economics can be read.

The challenges created by the new “Fidelio” delivery system raise questions that go far beyond the immediate working conditions. They affect the entire culture of work organization and the way in which social responsibility is perceived by companies. The coming weeks will show how these conflicts can be resolved and what changes may be necessary to improve working conditions in the postal service.