Britain’s largest independent parcels carrier, Lynx Express, expands its UK branch network facilities, opening the doors of a new purpose built branch in Gloucester on September 27.
Read MoreAgainst the opposition of Deutsche Post AG, EP Europost has defended its application to use the brand name TPG Post Deutschand. The Patent and Brands Office in Munich has decided that private postal service providers are alloweed to use the term post in their name.
Read MoreNOTE – THIS ARTICLE/PRESS RELEASE NOT RE-ISSUED OR ADDED TO WEBSITE/ME-NEWS AS RESULT WAS A NO VOTE.
In view of today’s announcement of the results of the CWU ballot for industrial action over the pay dispute with Royal Mail, Triangle is re-issuing the results of a survey of major mail users (initially released on 29 August). We believe that the voice of the mail user should be heard in this debate.
Triangle Management Services Limited (the leading specialist consultants to the mail industry) has interviewed a sample of Royal Mail’s leading customers and has found that they all believe any strike action should lead to some period of immediate deregulation. The majority (over 70%) of the top users interviewed, who collectively spend around £400 million a year on post, say that if there is industrial disruption then private carriers should be allowed to collect and deliver indefinitely not just during the period of any strike. All would prefer to pay the current Royal Mail tariffs but over 40% would be prepared to pay more – some up to 50% more than they are currently paying. Almost 90% of those interviewed said that a strike (if it lasted more than a month) would have a significant, major or catastrophic effect on their business.
Read MoreDeutsche Post, the German postal service operator, has indicated that it is not fundamentally opposed to plans by the EU to impose VAT on stamps with the planned deregulation of the EU postal market in 2009. The company has not yet decided whether it will increase prices when VAT is introduced.
Read MoreThe island’s postal service continues to face serious problems despite the attempts over the past five years to reform its management structure and operations.
The report of budgetary shortfalls resulting in utility companies disconnecting electricity and telephone services underscore the extent of the problems. The initial reforms which led to the formation of the Postal Corporation of Jamaica to replace the Post and Telecommunications Department, were meant to push the agency to become a more commercial operation. There were also extensive refurbishing and moves to improve efficiency in the delivery of mail as well as to provide the public with technology-driven over-the-counter services.
Read MoreRoyal Mail have said that the rejection of a national strike on the company’s 14.5% pay offer offered everyone in Royal Mail the opportunity to focus on completing the company’s turnaround and continuing to improve customer service.
Chief Executive Adam Crozier said, “This is good news. The great majority of our people, and all of our customers, will feel relief at what is a common sense result. We put 14.5% over 18 months on the table because we believe it gives postmen and women a fair weekly wage and offers customers the best prospects for long-term stability. Our overriding priority is to move forward and get the money into people’s pockets.”
Read MoreThe discussions between Royal Mail and the union have adjourned again, and will continue tomorrow morning.
In the meantime the negotiating team led by deputy general secretary Dave Ward is updating the postal executive committee on the discussions.
The result of the ballot has not being announced and may not be announced today in order to allow negotiations to continue without unnecessary pressure.
The position is still as follows:
The union nationally is not doing any media interviews until we announce the ballot result. It could affect the talks between senior Royal Mail and CWU negotiators.
Postal workers have narrowly voted against a national strike in a dispute over pay and conditions, according to regional union officials.
Workers had been expected to vote overhwhelmingly in favour of strikes.
But according to union sources, the ballot has reportedly been lost by a margin of as little as 2,000 votes.
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