AusPost weighs up outsourcing end user IT

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has disclosed its knowledge of tentative plans inside Australia Post to outsource the organisation's end user computing functions.

The union today warned that any decision to go ahead with the proposal would cast a shadow over 130 workers that manage end user computing within the organisation’s 1200 strong information, digital and technology unit.

The EUC team currently oversees the day-to-day tech needs of a 32,000 strong Australian workforce.

The CWU claimed in a statement that any losses would add to the 900 jobs in management, administration and support areas - including IT - that are already facing the axe before June 2015.

It also criticised senior management for looking towards its outsourcing options before it attempts to cut down on the proportion of contract staff on its books.

For the people in Retail Technology Transformation this will be their second restructure in 12 months.  Once again there was no mention of reducing the number of contractors.

- CWU statement.

Australia Post, however, insisted that it has yet to commit to any outsourcing or offshoring strategies, and said it will keep staff up to date as it moves through the evaluation of any options.

“No decisions have been made in relation to our EUC function,” a spokeswoman told iTnews.

“Just like many businesses, Australia Post is operating in a challenging business environment. We will continue to assess our services against the market to ensure we are delivering value to our business and our customers."

The organisation is undergoing a very public struggle with an increasingly outdated business model and fast declining mail numbers.

Chief executive Ahmed Fahour has invested in several technology programs - such as digital mailboxes and a developer centre for e-commerce sites - in an effort to protect its revenue base.

A previous version of this story said there are 300 EUC workers, based on CWU figures. This has since been corrected.