FedEx Corp, the world’s largest air express transport company, increased revenues from China by an annual 40 percent in the quarter to end-February, but said again it was battling on an uneven playing field.
FedEx, which does not normally divulge sales by country or region, fears government legislation now in the works could impede progress and protect China’s postal monopoly, a senior executive said.
Read MoreFedex Corp said that it is still too early for a complaint to be lodged with the World Trade Organization in the ongoing row between foreign parcel deliverers and China Post. Asia-Pacific president David Cunningham said that the company is working to influence the government as it drafts new legislation governing the postal industry – and the controversial role played by China Post.
‘It needs to play out in China before proceeding to a WTO-type environment,’ he said. The upcoming postal legislation marks the latest twist in an ongoing dispute between the Chinese government and foreign express companies over the extent of market access and the dual role of the postal service as both competitor and regulator.
The Royal Mail has infuriated trade unions by asking its managers to work longer hours, while still in the process of making thousands of staff redundant.
Trade union Amicus has accused bosses of exploiting a climate of fear after managers have been asked to sign agreements opting out of the European working time directive, which limits employees to a 48-hour week. Peter Skyte, national officer at Amicus, said: “The company has said 3,000 managers are surplus to requirements. This is clearly not the case if it is necessary for the remaining staff to work longer for the business to function.
“It’s ludicrous for Royal Mail to want managers to do more than 48 hours a week while seeking redundancy from others,” he said.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said the request is purely voluntary and staff are not being forced to work overtime.
Read MoreTalks aimed at resolving the postal dispute have begun at the Labor Relations Commission. Earlier today An Post managers said they were confident that, with goodwill, they could find a way of negotiating an end to the dispute. The Communications Workers’ Union said progress would mean getting their members back to work. More than 550 staff remain suspended from work at the Dublin Mails Centre in the row over changes to work practices.
Read MoreKuehne & Nagel achieves goals in 2003
Read MoreParceline has extended the range of items that customers can swap using its one-to-one exchange service, swapit. Items that can be replaced via swapit now include computer monitors, DVD players, vacuum cleaners and telephone handsets. Through Parcelines swapit, the replacement is delivered and the original item collected in one single transaction.
Read MoreDeutsche Post is continuing to improve its night airmail network. From March 29 this year, the number of flights transporting mail within Germany will be reduced from 23 to 20 per night. Trucks and sprinters will take the place of the canceled flights – with neither a loss in quality nor a time delay for the customer. This improvement will also bring further relief to Frankfurt am Main airport.
Read MorePortugal’s express industry must be arguably one of Europe’s fastest growing sectors.
The express business has grown 20% annually over the past 8 years to some €111 million in total turnover in 2002 even though it employed just over 1,000 people directly that year, according to a study commissioned by express industry body European Express Association.
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