Author: Archive

Brown calls for end to postal strikes

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

The prime minister has urged postal workers to settle their bitter dispute with Royal Mail over pay, pensions and flexibility, declaring there is “no justification” for further strikes.
His comments came as unofficial industrial action broke out at more than 20 sorting offices across the country, a few hours after the end of a 48-hour national strike.

While deliveries resumed in most of the country, wildcat strikes were reported in Liverpool, Lancaster, Glasgow and east London.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions, Gordon Brown said postal staff should go back to work, and called for a negotiated settlement. He said the dispute should be brought to an end on the terms already offered by Royal Mail.

Postal workers came under further pressure from the Business Secretary, John Hutton, who said the Communications Workers Union (CWU) should accept the “perfectly fair and reasonable” offer from Royal Mail managers and return to work.

Up to 130,000 postal employees were due to return to work last Wednesday 10th October after a strike that crippled services for almost a week, but unofficial action broke out at several sorting offices.

Some workers said they arrived for a shift starting at 5am but were told Royal Mail had changed their timetables without their consent.

By mid-morning, unofficial strikes continued in some parts of London and Liverpool, although postal employees returned to work in Glasgow.

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Statement

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

Royal Mail got back to work today and is making good progress in clearing and delivering delayed mail. Out of a workforce of 130,000, fewer than 1,900 were not working normally which means that today more than 98% of our people have simply got on with the job of getting mail to our customers.

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Postbank Uganda becomes Western Union Agent

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

Postbank has become an agent of Western Union, bringing to 22 the number of agents for the money transfer company in Uganda. Western Union has 160 agents in Africa.

Hikmet Ersek, the executive vice-president and managing director for Western Union Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia said Western Union was proud to be associate with PostBank and extending their reach.

“The key of Western Union’s business is a comprehensive network that operates hand-in-hand with reliable partners through localised resources such as banks, post offices and even some retailers,” he said.

Stephen Mukweli, the managing director of PostBank, said: “Over the last three years, PostBank has undergone a number of changes all aimed at delivering more value.”

He said the new partnership puts PostBank in a better position to deliver better value and consolidate it as a one-stop shop for financial services.

“We believe with our wide network, Post Bank and non-PostBank customers will find the bank the most convenient way to receive and send money,” the bank’s marketing and sales manager, Barbara Arimi, said.

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Ghana Post must be born anew – Mpiani

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

The Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani has tasked Ghana Post to reposition it and diversify its operations to respond to rapid technological changes.

He said Ghana Post could revisit the savings accounts system through the purchase of stamps, saying that would encourage the youth to save.

Mr Mpiani, who made the remarks when he launched a collection of Ghana @50 commemorative stamps produced by the Ghana Post in Accra also, tasked Ghanaian investors to invest in their country.

The occasion coincided with this year’s World Post Day which is under the theme; “Get connected.”

He reminded Ghana Post of the need for all Ghanaians to have access to Post offices irrespective of where they lived.

On the stamps, the Chief of Staff noted that they portrayed strides Ghana had achieved over the past 50 years in Education, Health, Sports, Banking and Insurance among others.

Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, Minister of Communications said government recognizes the role of the postal services hence has constructed 59 more post offices under the HIPIC initiative in order to bridge the communication gab.

Mr Kofi Duah-Adonteng, Managing Director of Ghana Post said it was determined to get all its systems automated, diversify their services and products in the face of improving technology.

He said the theme for this year reminded them to reposition in the wake of technology and related changes so that they remained relevant to the society.

Mr Duah-Adonteng said five International Money Transfer firms have expressed their readiness to work with the Ghana Post and extend many of their services in the rural areas.

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Nigeria: Nipost Generates N 5b as Revenue

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

The Nigerian Postal Service said it has realized the sum of N 3,836,021,089.88 in 2006 fiscal year. According to the organization, another sum of N 1, 983, 335, 606.28 was also generated between January and June this year.

Postmaster general of the federation, Mallam Ibrahim Mori, announced this yesterday in Abuja at the ceremony to mark this years’ World Postal Day. According to Mori Baba, the sum of N 3,836,021,089.88 realized in 2006 fell short of the total projection of N 4,117,654,000 in the year.

Although, NIPOST earned N 1, 983, 335, 606.28 revenue between January and June 2007, the Postmaster General said the amount equally fell short of N 2, 274, 528, 000.00 budgeted for the period.

Despite the inability of the organization to meet the revenue target set for itself, Mori Baba still insisted that NIPOST management is in the right direction.

Launching the new vehicles, the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr John Odey said the 25 vehicles were purchased at the cost of N 56, 481, 875.00 through the Universal Postal Union Quality of Service funds.

Speaking further, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has engaged NetPost of consultancy of the Netherlands to work out specific and acceptable reform programme for the NIPOST.

According to Odey, the objectives of the postal reform include: to formulate a postal sector policy strategy, to design and develop a postal legislation, to establish an independent sector regulator and to restructure NIPOST into new business units.

1 US Dollar = 126.890 Nigerian Naira

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Western Union to Take Equity in Singapore Agent

Posted by | Oct 10, 2007 | |

The Western Union Company will take a 49 percent equity stake in its Singapore agent, Western Union Global Network (WUGN) – a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Hersing Corporation Ltd.

The acquisition is in line with Western Union’s stated strategy to take or increase equity stakes in key agents and continue to strengthen its global agent network.

Western Union’s current investment will be upgraded to ordinary shares. Western Union will now earn a pro rate share of profits of WUGN and enjoy enhanced voting rights. The deal also includes a long-term extension of WUGN’s representation agreement to offer Western Union money transfer services at more favorable commission rates. Under the terms of the agreement, Western Union is now able to explore additional agent relationships in Singapore.

Western Union entered the Singapore market with Hersing in 2001, and the business now boasts more than 60 locations throughout the country through Agents RHB Bank, American Express and SingPost. The city is home to the world’s largest Western Union flagship store at Lucky Plaza.

“Singapore, with its transient worker population, is a key market for growth for Western Union,” said Sunil Balagopal, regional vice president for South East Asia, Western Union. “This agreement reinforces our commitment to this market and strengthens our relationship with Hersing. We look forward to exploring more opportunities for innovation in providing money transfer services in Singapore.”

“Western Union’s money transfer service is trusted by millions of consumers globally to quickly and reliably send and receive money,” continued Balagopal. “We’re confident that this agreement will ensure that we can offer both consumers and Agents in Singapore the best possible service.”

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Austrian Post and trans-o-flex set course for expansion in Europe

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

Strong position in German niche markets – plans to extend market leadership in the health care and pharmaceutical sectors – further acquisitions envisioned

Austrian Post and its German logistics subsidiary trans-o-flex will continue pursuing an expansion course in Germany and Europe, with the intention of acquiring additional companies. This was announced by Anton Wais, Chairman of the Management Board of Austrian Post, and Klaus J. Heinz, Speaker of the Management Board of trans-o-flex, speaking at a joint press conference in Frankfurt today.

In addition to trans-o-flex, Austrian Post operates on the German postal market through its subsidiaries AUSTRIAN POST International, meiller direct and Scanpoint. These companies specialise in national and international letter mail as well as mailings. Total revenues of the four companies, which have approximately 2,250 employees, is about EUR 600m.

Austrian Post also aims to expand its business activities in the parcels and specialist logistics segments in Eastern Europe, on the basis of its parcel services companies in Croatia (Overseas), Slovakia (SPS and In Time) as well as in Hungary (Merland Express and Road Parcel). At present, Austrian Post directly or indirectly employs more than 4,500 people in these countries, achieving above-average growth rates.

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GLS expands French handling capacity with new sorting equipment

Posted by | Oct 9, 2007 | |

GLS is expanding capacity at its Paris hub to cope with rising volumes and will gradually introduce new sorting technology at its other locations in France. The value of the investment was not disclosed.

The European parcels operator will install a new modular sorting line at its hub in Fleury-Mérogis, in the greater Paris area in November, increasing its handling capacity from 4,000 to 8,000 parcels per hour.

In the future, all sites in the French network will also be equipped with the new system, GLS France announced. The move follows an initial test phase at the Toulouse depot.

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