Year: 2007

ACAS is called in to report on UK postal strike

Ministers have asked ACAS, the conciliation service, to report to them on the Royal Mail strike amid signs that the dispute could last for months.

Rita Donaghy, the chair of Acas, has been asked to give an interpretation of the dispute so far and the reasons for the entrenched positions.

Leaders of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are scheduled to see John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, after informal talks last week. Acas has been present at recent meetings between Royal Mail and the union, although it has not been operating as facilitator because neither side has agreed to conciliation.

Royal Mail has suffered two national walkouts in the clash over pay and modernization, and more strike dates are likely to be set. The CWU could escalate the action beyond the one-day walkouts that it has called so far, or it may stage a series of regional strikes. The postal group has offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase but this was rejected by 77 per cent of members of the CWU who voted in a strike ballot.

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New Zealand Post: Free postage for communities

Organisations that give communities a helping hand can soon get one themselves.

Applications are about to open for Community Post, a postage giveaway that benefits thousands of non-profit community organisations every year.

New Zealand Post is making one and a half million free postage paid envelopes available for community organisations to use for campaigns or programmes which help the community.

That’s an increase of 500,000 on last year’s donation.

Last year 4,200 organisations benefited from Community Post. Groups ranged from local Plunket to Maori Wardens, to sports clubs and to organisations supporting the disabled in the community.

New Zealand Post national sponsorship manager, Hermione Bushong says demand for Community Post has increased markedly over the years.

She says Community Post envelopes help groups because funds that would otherwise be spent on administration costs can be directed towards core community services.

Community Post has helped more than 25,000 projects run by New Zealand non profit organisations since 1999.

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UPS says Teamsters talks temporarily recessed

United Parcel Service Inc. said on Monday contract talks with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are temporarily recessed while the company awaits information from pension funds that cover its workers.

The national committees met last week. Talks on local issues and contract riders are continuing, Black said, adding he does not know when UPS will get the pension fund information.

Last week, the Teamsters said contract negotiations with UPS were “temporarily suspended” because the company was unable to respond to the union’s demands. The union said it is willing to resume negotiations with UPS as soon as the package carrier makes a proposal on health care coverage and retirement benefits.

UPS and the union representing some 250,000 workers kicked off negotiations in September 2006 for a new deal to replace a six-year contract set to expire in 2008. That contract is the largest labor pact in the U.S. private sector.

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TNT tops for delivering safety

Atherstone-based TNT Express Services picked up the coveted Safety in Operation Award at the Motor Transport Awards 2007 for its safety-conscious approach both out on Britain’s roads and also in its nationwide network of depots, hubs and offices.

Judges praised TNT’s approach over the past two years which has resulted in a 10 per cent reduction in vehicle collisions along with a Fleet Safety Audit rating where at least 85 per cent of all TNT locations achieved a “four star plus” grading.

They were also impressed with TNT’s use of advanced computer training programmes to further improve the performance of its drivers. The RoadRISK software was highlighted for helping improve safety, drivers’ hazard perception and defensive driving techniques.

TNT’s work in the field of corporate social responsibility was also hailed.

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Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings announces management appointments for Polar Air Cargo Worldwide

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., a provider of global air cargo services, today announced two leadership appointments for its subsidiary, Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar).

Former DHL Express executive Randy Clark has been named Chief Operating Officer for Polar following the recent strategic transaction with DHL Express that includes the acquisition of an equity stake in Polar and a 20-year commercial arrangement. Olivier Alexandroff, formerly Vice President of Controlling for DHL Express U.S., was named Chief Financial Officer for Polar.

Clark will be based in Purchase, N.Y., reporting to Flynn.

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Astar sets deadline on ABX bid

Air freight service company Astar Air Cargo Holdings LLC said today it will withdraw its acquisition proposal for cargo airline ABX Air Inc. if the suitor does not receive a response by July 18.

On June 26, Miami-based Astar offered to acquire all outstanding shares of Wilmington, Ohio-based ABX for USD 7.75 per share. ABX Air said the proposal is an indication of interest and not a formal bid.

Both Astar and ABX Air have operating agreements with global express delivery and logistics company DHL and both companies maintain air cargo hub operations in Wilmington. The combined company would have a combined employment of about 10,000 and operate a fleet of more than 140 aircraft.

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Senator urges FedEx to choose Plattsburgh International Airport as new hub

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has urged FedEx to consider Plattsburgh International Airport as a potential hub for processing and shipping trans-border transactions. Schumer stressed that the Plattsburgh Airport, which is already equipped with state of the art facilities, is strategically positioned along the Canadian border and the Greater Montreal area, making it an ideal site to integrate existing overland trucking services with new transborder air service.

In a letter to FedEx, the senator wrote in support of Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute’s application for the donation of a used FedEx Boeing 727-200 Aircraft, arguing that the aircraft is vital to the Institute’s mission to provide students with the technical training necessary to help them succeed in the aviation industry. FedEx has a long history of donating retired cargo planes to airports, educational institutions and local governments so they can be used to train mechanics, cargo operators and other aeronautic professionals.

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Patrick Aguirregaviria appointed new Head of Courier Services in France

DHL Express has named Patrick Aguirregaviria its new Head of Courier Services in France, reporting directly to chairman and managing director Stéphane Corthier.

Patrick will be in charge of all production functions, marketing and client relations in the courier area both abroad and France-wide.

Patrick has been marketing director since 2006, developing the national and international express and courier markets and previously spent four years as France operations director on the country’s steering committee.

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The Mail & Express Review (MER) Magazine is our quarterly print publication. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, MER is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

 

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