Bpost CEO: Social Agreement a Step Forward, Work Remains

Bpost CEO Chris Peeters has described the newly signed social agreement at Belgium’s national postal operator as “a very important step forward,” while cautioning that the company’s transformation is far from complete. Speaking on Radio 1’s “De Ochtend” program on Friday, Peeters welcomed the collective labor agreement (CAO) reached with trade unions on May 28, but acknowledged that deep divisions remain over the company’s broader restructuring plan.

“We have taken a very important step, but we are not there yet,” Peeters told VRT NWS, as new strikes erupted in Liège and Seraing even as he spoke.

The new CAO, covering 2026-2027, was signed after months of tense negotiations and six weeks of rolling strikes that severely disrupted postal services across Belgium. The agreement provides job security guarantees, protection against naked dismissals through next year, an increase in meal vouchers from €8 to €10, and a one-time bonus linked to company performance. It also includes provisions on internal re-employment, leave arrangements, and end-of-career policies.

“The main thing is that we provide a work guarantee for the period of this CAO,” Peeters said, emphasizing the importance of job security at a time when Bpost is navigating significant structural changes. According to Made In, Peeters stated that the company had “listened to the concerns and expectations of our people.”

The Transformation Plan

While the CAO was agreed, the underlying transformation plan remains a source of intense conflict. The plan shifts postmen’s start times by 1 hour and 45 minutes later — from approximately 7:00 AM to 8:45 AM — starting in September 2026. The change is designed to align Bpost’s operations with the growing parcel delivery market, where delivery windows are typically later in the day.

“We will have to implement that shift in time if we want to survive in a very competitive parcel market,” Peeters said. “It is something that absolutely must happen.”

All major unions, however, reject the start-time shift. Luc Tegethoff, national chairman of the liberal postal union, told VRT NWS that “all unions have rejected that” and that further negotiations would be necessary. Geert Cools of the socialist postal union added that “there is no support among staff for the later hours.” Stéphane Daussaint of the French-speaking Christian union CSC warned that the majority of postmen believe the plan is “not realistic and operationally poorly thought out,” adding that he is “not able to guarantee social peace today.”

Strike Impact and Financial Toll

The weeks-long industrial action has taken a heavy toll on Bpost. Parent company Bnode estimates the direct cost at approximately €15 million, including lost revenue, quality fines, and emergency measures. CFO Philippe Dartienne noted that parcel volumes declined 25 percent in April alone, as reported by BRUZZ.

The conflict created a delivery backlog of over 16 million letters and up to 700,000 parcels, with approximately 3.2 million parcels lost to competitors. Bnode maintains its full-year 2026 adjusted EBIT forecast of €165-195 million but now expects results at the lower end of that range.

Ongoing Unrest

Despite the agreement, labor unrest continues. On Friday morning, 58 postmen in Liège and 18 in Seraing walked off the job, blocking distribution centers and halting mail and parcel deliveries in those regions. Local management is in discussions with the striking workers.

Peeters acknowledged the challenge of rebuilding trust. “On the long term, we are now fully engaged in winning back customer confidence,” he said. “Not only among employees, but also among customers, that is necessary to fulfill that job guarantee.”

Broader Context

Bpost faces existential challenges that extend beyond the current labor dispute. Traditional letter volumes continue to decline as digital communication replaces physical mail. The company lost the lucrative government newspaper distribution contract, and its share price has fallen sharply, with dividends suspended.

Peeters sought to reassure the public that Bpost remains committed to its universal service obligation. “We will continue to do letter mail. The postman remains important in the street scene,” he said.

What’s Next

The September 2026 implementation of the start-time shift looms as the next flashpoint. With unions refusing to accept the change and workers in some regions already back on strike, the fragile truce achieved through the CAO may prove temporary. Bpost’s ability to navigate this transition — balancing financial survival with social peace — will determine whether Belgium’s postal operator can secure its future in an increasingly competitive market.