Moving Packages and Changing Times for the Austrian Post

The application for a dedicated postal worker emoji, submitted by the Austrian Post AG and widely supported internationally, was initially rejected by the non-profit Unicode Consortium based in Mountain View, California, USA. A new application for a postal worker emoji can only be submitted in four years. Additionally, on December 1st, the Austrian Post set a record by delivering 1.6 million packages in a single day, and during the Christmas season, celebrities lend a hand in the package depots.

Manuela Bruck, Head of Corporate Communications & Customer Relations, Austrian Post AG: “Of course, this result is disappointing for all involved. At the same time, the broad international support has shown how important it is to give postal workers more visibility in the digital space. They are always there when needed, and they deserve recognition for that. We will not give up and will continue to work together for the digital visibility of postal workers. Some of the existing emojis already allow for that today.”

3800 Official and Standardized Emojis

Currently, there are almost 3,800 officially standardized emojis by the Unicode Consortium, depicting feelings, professions, objects, and activities. However, an essential profession is still missing from this colorful character set: the postal worker.

Around 5.3 million employees in the postal industry and countless millions more in the KEP (Courier-Express-Package) industry are not represented by a dedicated emoji. A delivery worker emoji would represent a globally widespread profession that affects almost everyone. Whether it’s about delivering important letters or online orders, this profession has become indispensable in daily life.

Broad International Support

The application from the Austrian Post received broad international support. It was backed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the World Postal Union, which is also a special organization of the United Nations, the International Post Corporation (IPC), an interest group representing the largest postal companies in Europe, Asia, and North America, the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP), the association of all North and South American postal companies, as well as the UNI Global Union, a cross-national representation of 20 million workers in 150 countries. The Austrian union of postal and telecommunications employees also supported the application. Additionally, national postal companies from Egypt, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined in support.

December 1: 1.6 Million Packages in One Day

The Christ Child has its hands full – and so does the Austrian Post. For several consecutive days, over a million packages have been transported, with the daily record for the year 2025 being set at around 1.6 million packages on December 1.

Peter Umundum, Deputy General Director, Board for Packages & Logistics, Austrian Post AG: “Around 1.6 million packages in a single day is a new record and shows the enormous capability of our team. Despite these peak volumes, we ensure that all packages arrive on time and reliably. My thanks go to our employees who give their all during this intense time to connect Austria for Christmas.”

Until Christmas Eve, the Post continues to forecast high shipment volumes. In December alone, the Post expects around 20 million packages. Additionally, the company anticipates about 50 million letters and Christmas cards during the Advent season.

Celebrities Lend a Hand

During the stressful Christmas season, many helping hands are involved at the Austrian Post. For several years now, employees from central departments up to the board have been supporting logistics centers, delivery bases, and post offices with special shifts.

Last year, for the first time, Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig and Cathedral Pastor Toni Faber sorted packages. They had previously worked at the Post and volunteered as “honorary postal workers” during particularly busy times – an offer that the Post promptly accepted. While the Vienna Cathedral Pastor will return to the Post’s service later in December, Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, who was once a summer postal worker, and the Vienna Mayor have already supported the processing of the first Christmas packages.

Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism: “I thank the many employees of the Post who are particularly challenged before Christmas. They ensure that packages are delivered on time and guarantee with their work an infrastructure without which our economic location would not function – and that 365 days a year.”

Posing for the camera (l. to r.): Walter Oblin, General Director, Austrian Post AG, Peter Umundum, Deputy General Director, Board for Packages & Logistics, Austrian Post AG, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism, and Michael Ludwig, Mayor of the City of Vienna

Effort and Heart Behind Every Package

Michael Ludwig, Mayor of the City of Vienna: “From my own experience at the Post, I know how much effort and heart goes into every package. Especially during the challenging Christmas season, the employees do great things to ensure that joy and warmth arrive on time in households. I am very happy to lend a hand myself and support this important effort.”

Walter Oblin, General Director, Austrian Post AG: “The Christmas season is the most intense phase of the year for us. The support of prominent figures like Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Mayor Michael Ludwig shows the enormous importance of our work for the people of Austria. My thanks especially go to our employees who deliver peak performance every day, not just at Christmas.”

Peter Umundum, Deputy General Director, Board for Packages & Logistics, Austrian Post AG: “In December, we handle peak days with up to 1.5 million packages, which is only possible with a strong team. Every helping hand makes a difference. The support from our prominent guests is therefore a nice sign of appreciation for the work of postal workers.”

4.6 Million Packages in December

In the package logistics center in Vienna, nearly 230,000 packages are sorted on a December day, which is about 50,000 packages more than an average day in 2025. Throughout December, employees at the logistics center are expected to have sorted around 4.6 million packages.

Photos: © Austrian Post