BOLZANO. «Delivering mail in Bolzano has become almost impossible because almost everyone has boxes inside their condominiums. The elderly don’t open the door for us, they don’t answer the intercom. If they do it and the mail is not for them they threaten and insult. It has happened to us many times. In Merano this problem doesn’t exist, they are all already out there. We need the “potholes” in the street. We also know that many are against it because they fear that they will be filled with advertising but this is not a collaborative attitude on the part of users”.
The postmen are with the Italian Post Office which recently, in some buildings in the capital, posted a letter at the entrance in which it communicates to the “kind customer” that it is not possible to deliver the correspondence because the cassette is inaccessible: «The same remains in storage for ten days at the Delivery Center in via Resia 190. We remind you that the boxes must be accessible, possibly on the street».
Antonella Longo – employee of the Italian Post Office, director of the single-operator office and provincial secretary of Failp/Cisal, explains that this is the reality: «There is no incompetence or carelessness on the part of the staff and there is no interruption of service but the postmen clash with the daily and actual inability to deliver mail.”Longo says that postmen come and go again. «They come by for the first time to make the delivery, they ring and no one opens. They come back the next day, same story. There are also those who don’t open if the mail isn’t for them because they’re scared. Society has changed. Couples today often work together and there is no one at home. Elderly people often receive precise instructions from their children, friends, etc. not to open to anyone. Moreover, there are daily calls from the police to pay attention to scams. The result is that no one trusts anymore and the doors remain barred.”
But there’s more. «The city has expanded and staff turnover is strong. Once upon a time there was a “fixed postman” to whom the same areas were entrusted for decades. And if he wasn’t there, a substitute would arrive and be trained to perfection. Staff who knew the families well. Today this is no longer the case and it is a shame because the postman remains, for the Italian Post Office, the best business card. The esteem was such that the postmen had sets of keys to all the doors in their area, which were given to them by the administrators of the buildings. Working like that was easy.” The delivery service was almost personalized. Today the faces of those who deliver are almost always new.
«It’s hard for those who work and it’s hard for the user. And then – concludes Antonella Longo - the Post Office is officially focusing on quality but is in fact trying to erase ownership of the area which has only remained on paper and should not be ignored, to work on quantity. And this is the result. However, the company’s effort must be recognized, which in mid-October hired 21 new full-time letter carriers in Bolzano. Now it’s 110 plus supplies. An important number.”
What specific changes in community behavior have impacted postal services in Bolzano?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Antonella Longo, Postal Employee and Provincial Secretary of Failp/Cisal
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Antonella. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the challenges faced by postal workers in Bolzano. You’ve highlighted some critical issues around mail delivery in your recent statements. Can you elaborate on the primary difficulties postmen are experiencing?
Antonella Longo: Good morning, and thank you for having me. Yes, the situation in Bolzano has become quite challenging. One of the biggest obstacles we face is access to mailboxes. Many residents live in condominiums, and unfortunately, we often find that the doors remain unanswered due to a variety of reasons. The elderly, in particular, are hesitant to open their doors and many times, they simply do not answer the intercom.
Time.news Editor: That sounds frustrating. Have the delivery practices changed over time to accommodate these challenges?
Antonella Longo: Certainly. In the past, we had a “fixed postman” assigned to specific areas. This continuity allowed for better familiarity and trust between postmen and residents. Nowadays, due to staff turnover and an expanding city, we see less of that. Postmen may visit an area but might not be recognized by residents, which breeds mistrust.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned that the fear of scams is contributing to a lack of response. How have these societal changes impacted mail delivery?
Antonella Longo: Fear is a significant factor. Many residents have been advised—sometimes even explicitly by family—to avoid opening their doors for strangers because of the increase in scams. While safety is paramount, this heightened vigilance severely hampers our ability to deliver mail. If the mail isn’t for them, they might feel threatened or insulted, which certainly complicates our job.
Time.news Editor: It seems like a catch-22. People need to secure their homes, but this security impacts essential services. What steps are being considered to address these issues?
Antonella Longo: We have suggested the introduction of “potholes”—essentially designated mail drop-off areas outside buildings—to make mail delivery feasible. However, there is pushback from residents who fear that these areas may become littered with advertisements. It’s a collaborative effort we’re hoping to achieve, but we need more open-mindedness from the community.
Time.news Editor: It’s intriguing that something as simple as a mailbox can represent a broader societal issue. If these problems continue, what implications might this have for postal services in the region?
Antonella Longo: If the accessibility challenges persist, we may see a decline in timely mail delivery, leading to more frustrated customers and potentially strained relationships between the postal service and the community. Additionally, with the increasing reliance on e-commerce, if we cannot adapt, we risk becoming obsolete in a fast-evolving postal landscape.
Time.news Editor: This issue raises many questions about community cooperation and the future of services that have long been taken for granted. What can residents do to help improve the situation?
Antonella Longo: I encourage residents to engage in open dialog with postal workers. Knowing their postman can foster a sense of community. They should also participate in discussions about solutions, such as accessible mailboxes, that balance security and service. Empathy and cooperation can go a long way.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for shedding light on these important issues, Antonella. It’s essential for our readers to understand the challenges faced by essential service providers like the postal service, especially in our changing world.
Antonella Longo: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these topics. It’s crucial for our community to work together to overcome these challenges.