Royal Mail confirm Industrial action harmed services this year

New figures released today by Royal Mail confirm that industrial action during the second quarter of 2007-08 damaged services for postal customers. 78.4 pct of First Class letters reached their destination the working day after posting, compared with an on-target performance of 93 pct in the first quarter of the year.

Royal Mail Marketing Director Alex Batchelor said, “We are very aware that our customers simply didn’t receive the service they deserve as a result of this year’s strike action by the Communication Workers Union – and we’re very sorry that they were let down.

“Customers are all too aware that strike action continued during the third quarter of the year which means that targets will also be missed for the autumn period. But this week’s vote in favour of our pay deal is good news for customers – it’s a green light for Royal Mail to invest in new technology and modernise our operations so that we can return to the record highs in quality of service reached in the last two years and build on that success for the future.”