The week that was: 12 March 2010
UK peace deal struck, Gaunt leaves Home Delivery Network, and regulatory body offers USPS some advice… After months of sitting on the edge of its seat, Post&Parcel blew a huge sigh of relief as Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) thrashed out a deal to end the possibility of further strikes in 2010. Postal workers in the UK will receive a 6.9% pay rise. They will also receive improved job security and maternity and paternity benefits. As a part of the agreement, the existing limit of three items of junk mail per household per week will be abandoned. Adam Crozier, Royal Mail group chief executive, said: “This agreement is good for the business as it allows Royal Mail to get on with its modernisation, it’s a good and fair deal for our people, and it’s a good deal for our customers as it ensures stability over the next three years. It is a real credit to all those involved – both in the company and the union – and I’m grateful for all their hard work. I’m also grateful to Roger Poole for his help and support over the last few months.” Over at the CWU, Dave Ward, deputy general secretary, said: “It’s been a long time coming, but this deal delivers on the major issues which postal workers have fought for. There’s a balance of pay and operational changes which will help offset job losses and ensure our members are fairly rewarded for change.”
Another week, another departure in the mail and express industry as Brian Gaunt leaves Home Delivery Network (HDN). The news comes weeks after HDN announced the purchase of DHL’s UK domestic parcels business. In a recent interview with Post&Parcel’s sister publication, Mail & Express Review, published earlier this month, Gaunt said the purchase of the parcel business was a “transformational deal in a growing market”. It looks like Jonathan Smith will be leading HDN through the transitional process after taking over from Gaunt. Post&Parcel wishes him all the best in his new role.
Over to the US now, where the US Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has urged USPS to engage more with the public over the closure of post offices – in its “Station and Branch Optimization and Consolidation Initiative”. Only 162 offices remain under threat from an initial list of more than 3,000. The Commission gathered a wide range of input from the public in hearings and written submissions before reaching its conclusions. “I urge the Postal Service to take our recommendations to heart and implement them quickly in order to respond to public concerns and build goodwill. This public process is an example of how the Postal Service’s and the Commission’s complementary authorities improve policy in an open and transparent manner,” said chairman Ruth Y. Goldway.
And finally…
As media partner to the prestigious World Mail Awards, Post&Parcel wants to remind all readers that companies only have two weeks left to submit their entries, at www.mailawards.com. The closing date is 26 March. The winners will be announced at the World Mail Awards’ ceremony in Copenhagen on 15 June, on the eve of Triangle Management Services’ World Mail and Express Europe Conference. You have to be in it to win it!
