UK London postal strike could cost Royal Mail £10m
Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier has warned that this week’s 24 hour postal strike in London could cost the national carrier up to £10m.
Said Crozier: “Some of the London postcode areas are among the worst performing in the country. If Royal Mail is to hit its targets this current year then it’s vital that service in London improves. It is madness, therefore, for the union to inflict further financial damage through strike action.”
Crozier said that Postcomm’s decision to fine Royal Mail £7.5m for failing to meet quality of service targets last year carried a stark message for everyone in Royal Mail since it was unlikely that the Regulator would make any allowance for falls in customer service caused by a strike. The backlog of mail caused by this week’s strike could take up to five days to clear.
The CWU’s postal executive is expected to meet in the next few days to discuss further action in London, including the option of joining a strike by local government workers on 16 October.
Following PPA’s letter to Allan Leighton supporting his efforts to avoid a national strike, Royal Mail’s chairman has replied to PPA, thanking members for their support and pledging to work closely with publishers to ensure disruption caused by London strike action is as little as possible.
