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DHL UK wins BP deal

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

DHL has secured a multi-million pound deal to deliver 30 million cases of fresh chill, ambient and secure products to 350 BP retail forecourts within the UK each year.

Rebecca Coles, BP Retail’s supply chain manager, said: “DHL demonstrated high service performance, good cost management and in particular, the ability to manage change. DHL gave us the confidence to undertake massive operational change, working to meet our strategy with innovative distribution solutions.”

DHL highlighted the benefits of collaboration, delivering value and increased transport efficiency through the introduction of a cross-dock operation in Harlow, in conjunction with Nisa-Today’s existing operation.

Perry Watts, chief executive officer of DHL’s retail sector, said: “We’re really pleased to build on our existing relationship with BP in this new area of business. We’re confident that we were able to create real efficiencies along the supply chain through collaboration and by offering a bespoke service to BP.”

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DHL selected as the exclusive courier services provider for the state of Florida

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

DHL announced that the State of Florida Department of Management Services renewed its contract with DHL as the exclusive courier services provider for all State of Florida agencies and institutions. The State of Florida will continue to leverage DHL’s comprehensive portfolio of domestic services – Same Day, Express, and Ground delivery – for deliveries within the State and nationwide.

Thirty-seven State agencies will use DHL for shipping standard letters, reports, boxes, and time sensitive shipments – including government institutions approved to take advantage of State contracts, the Florida State Lottery, State colleges, schools and local and county governments,

Through the new contract, DHL will provide several customized services for the State of Florida including a special visibility program to identify time-sensitive State of Florida shipments and a dedicated 1-800 customer service line for State users. DHL’s regional sort center in Orlando enables the State of Florida to take advantage of one-day delivery of all ground shipments within the State.

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U.S. Ad Volume Recedes for Second Consecutive Quarter, Internet, Magazines Rise

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

U.S. measured media as spending fell 0.3 pct to USD 72.59 billion during the first half of 2007, as the ad economy shrunk for the second consecutive quarter this year, according to estimates released this morning by ad tracking firm TNS Media Intelligence. The pattern is significant, said TNS MI President-CEO Steven Fredericks, because it is the first time since 2001 that spending declined for two consecutive quarters – a trend economists look at closely for signs of recession. “While the protracted downturn in automotive spending has been a prime contributor, the overall results reflect weakness across a wide range of industries and advertisers,” Fredericks stated. “Given the uncertainties about near-term economic growth and consumer spending, we expect core ad spending will continue to face challenges during the second half of the year.”
Not all media are suffering as a result of the downturn. Internet display advertising maintained its growth leadership position, registering a 17.7 pct increase to USD 5.52 billion. TNS MI does not currently track online search advertising, which is believed to be fueling even greater growth in the online sector.

Consumer magazines posted a 6.9 pct gain to USD 11.50 billion in advertising. Outdoor expenditures were up 3.6 pct to USD1.90 billion and Cable TV followed with a 2.8 pct increase to USD8.38 billion.

Broadcast TV media continued to experience weakness in the second quarter and turned in significant half-year declines. Network TV expenditures fell 3.6 pct to USD11.84 billion, while ad spending on Spot TV dropped 5.4 pct to USD 7.29 billion. Syndication TV was down 5.3 pct to USD 2.00 billion.

Newspaper and radio media also saw widening losses during the second quarter. For the half-year period, ad spending in Local Newspapers plunged 5.7 pct to USD 11.09 billion on a reduction of 4.7 pct in space sold. Marketers lowered their radio advertising budgets by 2.7 pct , to a total of USD5.14 billion.

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Letter Carriers Union Ratifies New Five-Year Contract

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

Rank-and-file members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year National Agreement with the U.S. Postal Service covering city delivery letter carriers throughout the nation.

The vote for ratification was 104,346 to 11,895 according to Joseph DeRossi of NALC Branch 41, Brooklyn, New York, chairman of a special Ballot Committee that supervised the tabulation.

The tentative settlement, reached by negotiators on July 12, had been endorsed unanimously by the NALC Executive Council.

The contract includes general wage increases of 8.85 percent over the term of the agreement, along with semi-annual cost-of-living adjustments, and new protections against contracting out of letter carrier work by the Postal Service to private firms and individuals.

NALC President William H. Young applauded the 89.8 percent approval vote by the union membership.

The agreement provides a 1.4 percent wage increase retroactive to November 25, 2006; a 1.8 percent increase in November 2007; 1.9 percent in November 2008; 1.9 percent in November 2009, and 1.85 percent in November 2010.

The contract runs until November 20, 2011. The NALC represents all 222,000 city delivery letter carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service in the 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions.

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Postal union set for more strikes

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

The postal workers union has said it will announce further strikes after failing to reach an agreement with the Royal Mail during five days of talks.

Industrial action had been scheduled for last week, but was suspended for last ditch negotiations at the weekend.

According to the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), while progress had been made in some areas, including pay, it was not enough to avert strike action.

CWU members are concerned about pay levels and modernization plans.

The Royal Mail said it was “extremely disappointed” the CWU had continued “to ignore the stark challenges facing the company”.

Since June, the CWU has staged a number of national walkouts in protest at Royal Mail’s offer of a 2.5 pct pay increase and the company’s aggressive modernization plans.

The union claims the shake-up plans will put about 40,000 jobs at risk.

According to the CWU, the Royal Mail has now upped its pay offer to a two-year increase worth 6.7 pct, however the company is sticking to pension proposals rejected by the union – such as increased employee contributions and later retirement age.

But the Royal Mail countered that it had “made it clear” to union officials that their aim was to “protect (our) existing people’s pensions as far as possible and not increase their contributions”.

The CWU also said there has been no final agreement on a number of areas including job security, personnel procedures, automation, productivity and network changes.

Until now, Royal Mail has stood firm against union demands insisting they are unaffordable.

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Postwatch: Meeting of the Counters Advisory Group

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

The Postwatch Counters Advisory Group convened today (Tuesday 11th September) for the fourth time this year. The group comprises a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the future of the post office network and the needs of its customers.

The group’s aim is to promote the views, concerns and interests of all consumers and in particular people with disabilities, the elderly, those on low incomes and people who reside in rural areas.

The session enabled Postwatch and Post Office Ltd to update stakeholders on the plans for public consultation and how customers will be informed of proposals. Members recognized the continuing challenges facing the network and will continue their work on post office issues in the coming year.

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Royal Mail staff stage walk-out

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

Up to 75 Royal Mail employees stopped work at the delivery office in Scotia Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said the 12 staff had been suspended on full pay over allegations of bullying and harassment.

Deliveries in the area were severely disrupted.

In a statement Royal Mail said it was “disappointed that 75 employees have walked out and commenced unofficial industrial action following the suspensions”.

It said 13 employees continued to work normally.

It said the staff had been suspended while the allegations were “thoroughly investigated”, adding that it had a “zero tolerance attitude to harassment of any kind”.

Jason Holdcroft had been back at work for just two days

Three of the suspended workers protested their innocence, saying they had not been told what the exact allegations were.

Steve Goodison said: “It’s a sad day. Twenty-three years I’ve worked for Royal Mail and I’ve never been disciplined in my life.”

Paul Dawson said he was “in shock” at the “unfounded allegations”.

And Jason Holdcroft, who returned to work this week after several weeks of paternity leave, said: “I’ve done two days and then I’m suspended for bullying and harassment but I don’t actually know who it is I’ve bullied and harassed.”

At a meeting at a nearby pub, the suspended workers urged their colleagues to return to work on Wednesday.

Staff at the same office went on strike in March over a colleague’s sacking.

Nationally, the Communication Workers’ Union has said it has plans for industrial action after failing to reach an agreement with Royal Mail over pay.

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Russian parcels firm Armadillo re-brands to DPD

Posted by | Sep 11, 2007 | |

Russian parcels firm Armadillo, a GeoPost subsidiary, is re-branding to DPD to benefit from the strong international name. The move follows similar re-branding of GeoPost subsidiaries in Poland, the Baltic States and Benelux.

The previous product name Bizpak for the domestic parcel service is being phased out in favor of DPD, the main brand of the GeoPost group, DPD announced in a statement. The re-branding, which should be completed by the end of this year, is being carried out in a phased program covering depots, staff uniforms and the vehicle fleet, with delivery vans bearing a “Bizpak is now DPD” slogan.

The re-branding is designed to benefit from the high international reputation of the DPD brand with values such as reliability, efficiency and customer friendliness.

The parcels company already launched parcel services for Russian exports to Europe using the DPD brand last autumn. The “DPD Classic” service offers door-to-door deliveries of documents and goods up to 31.5kg to countries throughout Europe, with transit times of 2-5 days.

In 2006, the Armadillo Group, a joint venture between GeoPost and Turkey’s Yurtici Kargo, increased revenues by 51 pct to 1.5 billion roubles (EUR 44.2 million). It delivered over 2.8 million parcels for 11,500 customers across Russia, and shipped volumes with a combined total weight of 70,000 tons. The group opened six new branches to extend its network to 22 locations in Russia.

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